Good start, but then it gets ruined

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Like his character Nathanial Mayweather, Chris Elliott was born to a very talented father (Bob Elliott) and into a lucrative family business (showbiz). Also like Nathanial, the elder's talent casts an especially harsh light on the younger's near complete lack thereof. Chris takes us as Nathanial on a metaphorical journey starting from privileged upbringing complete with shots at televisions shows, both his own and David Letterman's, based on the respect others have for his father. And like Nathanial eventually that life of ease ebbs away as Chris/Nathanial have to make it on their own talents either making a comedy or surviving on a ship called "The Filthy Whore." Neither fares well and Elliott deserves credit for taking an unflinching look at his situation and filming what he see even if only in metaphor. Like his career, little about the movie works. As a character, Nathanial grates and a lack of more attractive protagonists means little that happens provokes any empathy from the audience - The Filthy Whore could have pulled "A Perfect Storm" sinking about the 35 minute mark and no tears would have been shed. As a story, Nathanial's being thrown out of an anachronistically modern limousine only to mistake The Filthy Whore for his father's "Queen Anne" yacht works less well than your average "Two Close for Comfort" episode setup. As a comedy, even Letterman himself finds himself in a disjointed, seemingly improvised, unfunny exchange with his one-time television foil. In short, while a small, vociferous group of Elliott fans consider this a cult classic, it is only their hero-worship that makes it watchable.

The best thing about this movie is that it doesn't allege some things it doesn't have, or bigger than it already owns. I loved it, and it's crazy since I'm not a Chris Elliott's fan at all. It's solid simple fun. The naive atmosphere worked perfectly. The idiot gags looked smart. Sometimes it's the most cynical kids' fantasy. Sometimes it's a close spoof of (Jason and The Argonauts - 1963) ! and all the time it's some fine comics. Surprisingly (Melora Walters) looked super cute and for the first time sexy. The sailors' team delivered so right performance. Nothing was over the top, or goofy in a bad way. All the elements harmonized to make the jest good. It even managed to be a story about a boy turning into a man. This kind of comedies used to be twisted, disgusting, poor, or easy, whatever. But Cabin Boy isn't any of that. It's joyful, yet in loyally childish way; which could be the secret of it indeed. Unlike so many jests, this will live long.

Critics hate this film because they see so much of themselves in the protagonist: A character who spends his whole overeducated, over-pampered life sneering at every one and every thing else, the self-appointed know it all who mocks everything but produces nothing.The protagonist is a critic, and the story makes fun of the protagonist.It was interesting and satisfying to see the protagonist's fate... and I laughed the whole way through. Summary: Unfortunately, people can't make a movie that trashes your run of the mill critic, and still hope for a good review. If you are a critic know it all, you'll hate "Cabin Boy". If you have an actual sense of humor you'll love it.Happiness guaranteed: That's what cabin boy is to me.

Back in 1994, Chris Elliot was one of the many SNL stars who was known for his cheeky comedy sketches alongside the many stars of the SNL over the years for about 3-4 years afterwards. This tale was trying to be Chris Elliot's "Deuce Bigalow" or "Wayne's World," but Elliot never really had any great reoccurring characters in SNL.The tale is of Elliot's character, Nathanial Mayweather, who completes his education as a sass-mouthed, fancy boy only to find that he is stranded in the real world outside of the upper-class. He seeks a trip to Hawaii after getting kicked out of his ride home (for sass-mouthing the driver). The only transportation around in a fisherman's boar that has 4 drunken sailors onboard who try to treat him horribly so that they can fish in peace. Hijinx ensue, though, after he rescues a world record-hopeful swimmer who doesn't want to be saved, and a bunch of weird "monsters" on the "Hawaii" island. He learns that life with friends is better than someone-else's dreams for him, and returns to the crew of fishermen and the girl.So that's it...you now know what happens. No need to rent it. I got a little bored of the characters and their joking around. There were no real characters to get attached to...that was the main problem. There were occasionally funny lines in the movie (The pipes...are clean! and David Letterman's "Do you wanna buy a monkey, little girl?") and, more importantly, the movie was co-produced by Tim Burton, who does amazing touches with animation and realism of outside characters (the siren on the front of the boat, the clouds in the storm, the quirky fish title sequence, the little characters mixed with the real-sized ones). That and the cameos by well-known talk show comedians David Letterman and Andy Richter have their own appeal to watch this film.Ultimately, I gave the movie a 5, though, because it wasn't an important film for comedy's sake, just different. Another story to throw along with the Austin Powers collection and Deuce Bigalows. Check it out to find your own funny stuff in the film, though. It has its moments.