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Fantasy Island, 2020
An airplane lands at a remote island, and the guests who disembark are welcomed by Mr. Rourke (Michael Pena) who tells them that the rumors are true: on this island, they will each get to enjoy one fantasy. But as the fantasies begin, it soon becomes clear that something malevolent is happening on the island, and this could be a classic case of “be careful what you wish for.”
A likable cast and a fun premise elevate a rocky, overlong story.
I did not grow up in the right era to be someone who watched the original TV show on which this film is based. The general premise, however, is more than familiar to any fantasy/horror fan: if you get a chance to wish for something that seems too good to be true, look out!
It doesn’t ultimately feel like the movie makes the best use of its premise. There were some plot turns that surprised me in really pleasant ways, including a late-act reveal that I did not see coming at all. That said, those moments don’t totally feel like they justify the movie’s 100-plus minutes of runtime. After about the first half hour, I found myself repeatedly checking how much time was left, and my reaction was usually “Really? But how?!”. I think that there could have easily been 25 or so minutes ejected from the film and it would still have maintained its story flow.
The other problem with the film is that it doesn’t quite nail the “wish gone wrong” trope in terms of pacing. In a really great film with such a premise, it takes a while for the wrongness of the situation to settle in. But in this film, it’s often just a matter of minutes and there’s no time to enjoy the dawning realization that it’s all turned sideways.
There is one really great subplot in the film, which is the story following Gwen (Maggie Q). Gwen wants to live out the fantasy of undoing a regret: having turned down her boyfriend when he proposed marriage. Gwen is shocked---delighted, then disturbed---when she realizes that it’s all real and not roleplay, and her emotional journey isn’t just the obvious plot point of “Oh, she wished she was married with a kid, but that’s not all it’s cracked up to be!”. Instead, Gwen is troubled by the idea that there’s another regret she’d rather rectify, one that’s at the heart of her long-standing depression and feelings of guilt.
The other subplots are okay, but just don’t land as well. Goofy brothers JD and Brax (Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O Yang) want to live the sweet life, in a very college-aged conception of that term. Patrick (Austin Stowell) wants to experience life as a soldier, to feel a closer connection to the military father he lost as a child. And Melanie (Lucy Hale) wants to exact some sweet, sweet revenge on the classmate who tormented her as a child. The main problem with all of these subplots is that they play out in disjoint, poorly paced ways. Melanie’s horror as she realizes that the real bully, Sloane (Portia Doubleday), has been kidnapped and is about to be horribly tortured is a good moment. And Doubleday, as the effortlessly cruel Sloane, is a great mid-film addition to the cast of characters. (Looking over Melanie’s outfit she sympathizes, “Oh my god, did they make you wear that?!”).
Again, the actors themselves bring a lot to the film, and make things work far better than the writing deserves. Pena has good comedic timing as their host. Hansen and Yang have a cute chemistry as brothers who love each other but are a bit co-dependent. Hale and Doubleday generate some good chemistry as enemies who end up needing each other to survive. Maggie Q is the standout here, but she also benefits from the best writing and character development. Also, Michael Rooker is on hand as a man running around the island wielding a machete. I didn’t totally understand his character, but, you know, Michael Rooker with a machete. We don’t ask much more.
I’m kind of torn on whether I’d recommend this film. I did enjoy it, but it was also a movie that really dragged at points, and I don’t think I’d watch it again. I think it helps that I have such affection for many of the cast. (If you’ve never seen Kristen Bell and Ryan Hansen reviewing kids’ products together, during which Bell rides Hansen like he’s a pony----highly recommend).
Maybe a good choice when you want something horror but also a bit mindless?
Fantasy Island, 2020
An airplane lands at a remote island, and the guests who disembark are welcomed by Mr. Rourke (Michael Pena) who tells them that the rumors are true: on this island, they will each get to enjoy one fantasy. But as the fantasies begin, it soon becomes clear that something malevolent is happening on the island, and this could be a classic case of “be careful what you wish for.”
A likable cast and a fun premise elevate a rocky, overlong story.
I did not grow up in the right era to be someone who watched the original TV show on which this film is based. The general premise, however, is more than familiar to any fantasy/horror fan: if you get a chance to wish for something that seems too good to be true, look out!
It doesn’t ultimately feel like the movie makes the best use of its premise. There were some plot turns that surprised me in really pleasant ways, including a late-act reveal that I did not see coming at all. That said, those moments don’t totally feel like they justify the movie’s 100-plus minutes of runtime. After about the first half hour, I found myself repeatedly checking how much time was left, and my reaction was usually “Really? But how?!”. I think that there could have easily been 25 or so minutes ejected from the film and it would still have maintained its story flow.
The other problem with the film is that it doesn’t quite nail the “wish gone wrong” trope in terms of pacing. In a really great film with such a premise, it takes a while for the wrongness of the situation to settle in. But in this film, it’s often just a matter of minutes and there’s no time to enjoy the dawning realization that it’s all turned sideways.
There is one really great subplot in the film, which is the story following Gwen (Maggie Q). Gwen wants to live out the fantasy of undoing a regret: having turned down her boyfriend when he proposed marriage. Gwen is shocked---delighted, then disturbed---when she realizes that it’s all real and not roleplay, and her emotional journey isn’t just the obvious plot point of “Oh, she wished she was married with a kid, but that’s not all it’s cracked up to be!”. Instead, Gwen is troubled by the idea that there’s another regret she’d rather rectify, one that’s at the heart of her long-standing depression and feelings of guilt.
The other subplots are okay, but just don’t land as well. Goofy brothers JD and Brax (Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O Yang) want to live the sweet life, in a very college-aged conception of that term. Patrick (Austin Stowell) wants to experience life as a soldier, to feel a closer connection to the military father he lost as a child. And Melanie (Lucy Hale) wants to exact some sweet, sweet revenge on the classmate who tormented her as a child. The main problem with all of these subplots is that they play out in disjoint, poorly paced ways. Melanie’s horror as she realizes that the real bully, Sloane (Portia Doubleday), has been kidnapped and is about to be horribly tortured is a good moment. And Doubleday, as the effortlessly cruel Sloane, is a great mid-film addition to the cast of characters. (Looking over Melanie’s outfit she sympathizes, “Oh my god, did they make you wear that?!”).
Again, the actors themselves bring a lot to the film, and make things work far better than the writing deserves. Pena has good comedic timing as their host. Hansen and Yang have a cute chemistry as brothers who love each other but are a bit co-dependent. Hale and Doubleday generate some good chemistry as enemies who end up needing each other to survive. Maggie Q is the standout here, but she also benefits from the best writing and character development. Also, Michael Rooker is on hand as a man running around the island wielding a machete. I didn’t totally understand his character, but, you know, Michael Rooker with a machete. We don’t ask much more.
I’m kind of torn on whether I’d recommend this film. I did enjoy it, but it was also a movie that really dragged at points, and I don’t think I’d watch it again. I think it helps that I have such affection for many of the cast. (If you’ve never seen Kristen Bell and Ryan Hansen reviewing kids’ products together, during which Bell rides Hansen like he’s a pony----highly recommend).
Maybe a good choice when you want something horror but also a bit mindless?