Captain Jack (1998)

Lightly eccentric and sweetly appealing, Captain Jack is as enjoyable as it is innocuous. While not as overtly funny as Waking Ned Devine or similarly modest British films to which it favorably compares, its subtle humor and stout-hearted sentiment are rich enough to satisfy any discerning Anglophile. Bob Hoskins is perfect in the title role, playing a Yorkshire tour-boat captain determined to rescue the long-forgotten Captain Scoresby--a British explorer who sailed to the Arctic in 1791--from historical obscurity. Recruiting an offbeat crew of locals, he retraces Scoresby's 1,300-mile journey in his rickety boat, weathering storms above and below decks so he can place a tribute plaque on a remote, unpopulated island. Hoskins makes you care about this likable everyman, amiably teamed with an esteemed British cast including Sadie Frost and seasoned veterans Gemma Jones and Anna Massey. They're a quirky crew, barely seaworthy but charming enough to keep this loosely fact-based comedy afloat. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Corny, Obvious, Yuk

I so much wanted to like this movie. I was hoping for another "Captain Ron" or "Master and Commander" type move but instead it was overly sentimental, corny and just awful. I know I am going to get panned for this review, but the movie was so bad I want Captain Jack to give me my two hours back. The acting was acceptable (especially Bob Hoskins), but the plot and script were so poor and stupid that once they left port I was hoping the boat would sink with all hands lost just so I wouldn't have to tolerate any more. It was so sentimental, so wistful it was painful. How much 'Ah' can you stand when there is no reason to be 'Ahing'? A dreadful movie. June 23, 2008

For Bob Hoskins completists only

This reviewer has never seen a Bob Hoskins performance where he wasn't a credit to his profession. (His masterful performance in "Mona Lisa" comes to mind!) In that sense, this film is no exception. But even though the mature members of the supporting cast are fine, it is Hoskins' performance that is this film's only saving grace. Having said that, and acknowledging that the basic plot was, at best, of mild interest, this reviewer was completely put-off by the sickeningly-sweet sub-plot embellishments. One such, the boy-interacts-with-girl subplot and its related "acting" was especially obnoxious.

This film is suitable only for Bob Hoskins completists or fans of feel-good, heartwarming, fake-thrill juvenility ala the "family-fare" Disney flicks (excluding the mandatory juvenile boy-girl sex scene near the end, of course).
January 10, 2006

A Look Over The Horizon With "Captain Jack"

This review refers to "Captain Jack" DVD/Wellspring

"Captain Jack" is a film I would recommend for everybody. It's a high seas adventure, a high-spirited comedy, it's got a little romance and some drama as well. It's a feel good film that will have you rooting for the heroes all the way.

Captain Jack (Bob Hoskins), runs a little tour boat business out of the little seaside town of Whitby. Whitby's claim to fame is that it is the home of the famous Captain Cook. But don't let Captain Jack hear you say that, he's a staunch supporter and expert on another Captain that hails from Whitby, Captain Scoresby. Who is Scoresby? He's the sea Captain who in 1791, made a 1300 mile trip, discovering a passageway to the Artic.

Jack is tired of hearing about Captain Cook. He wants to honor Scroseby, and business is slow anyway, so he decides to make the 1300 mile dangerous voyage and place a plaque in the Artic for his hero. He's joined by an unlikely mix of a novice and quirky but highly lovable crew. But uh-oh there's a minor glitch...Jack's boat has failed miserably on inspection and he has been restricted to the Harbor only. Not one to be kept from his mission, Jack and his crew, sneak off and begin their adventure, all the while being chased by The Royal Airforce, Navy, and a host of other marine agencies.

The film, the outstanding British Cast, the story and especially Captain Jack, will have your heart swelling as big as the waves in the ocean. You'll be cheering them on all the way as the go from fugitives to heroes. Bob Hoskins is a marvel as the rascally Captain. Gemma Jones, Maureen Lipman, Sadie Frost, Anna Massey and Peter McDonald add their special charms as well. There's a wonderful soundtrack, with music that just makes you want to be at sea.

The DVD presents a very nice picture (full screen), and excellent sound in stereo. There are some cast and crew bios, and it comes with a "Production Journal" booklet with making of the film info and a little about the story that the film is loosley based on.

It's a wonderful story about following your dreams. There's something for everyone, but I think that anyone who loves stories of the sea, will be especially partial to this one.

Take a look over the horizon with "Captain Jack" and enjoy...Laurie March 25, 2005

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