Overboard

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Overboard Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Lazy, insulting, gender-swapped remake just isn't funny.

PG-13 2018 112 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 9 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 12 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Overboard is a remake of the 1987 Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell comedy, with the main roles gender-swapped (this time around, Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez co-star). It's all based on lies and other horrible behavior, and, in the remake, there are no laughs, no fun, and no romantic chemistry to redeem the rocky premise. The movie's messages -- including that money is the key to happiness -- are iffy at best. In several scenes, a man "parties" with several bikini-clad women, kisses one, and almost has sex (he stops to search for condoms). His naked bottom is partially shown, and there's some sex talk as well as jokes about sex addiction. The same man is shown drinking heavily and frequently, is drunk in one scene, and later is led to believe that he has an alcohol addiction. Language isn't frequent but includes several uses of "s--t" and a couple uses of "a--hole." Violence is mostly of the pratfall-type, but a man also pushes a woman off of a boat into the ocean, and a bloody cut is shown.

Community Reviews

J C.
J C. Adult
August 31, 2018
age 18+
Michelle C.
Michelle C. Adult
August 18, 2018
age 18+

So inappropriate!

I LOVE the original, and was looking forward to the remake but it was not appropriate. Talks about condoms and sex way too much. Sadly, it wasn’t even funny.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In OVERBOARD, Kate (Anna Faris) is a struggling single mom with three daughters and two jobs: delivering pizza and cleaning carpets. She's also studying for a nurse's exam and needs a break. Hired to clean the carpets on a huge yacht that belongs to selfish, unpleasant billionaire Leonardo (Eugenio Derbez), Kate refuses to bring him a snack and is fired without pay. He also throws her equipment in the ocean. Later, drunk, Leonardo falls overboard and loses his memory. Kate decides to get her revenge by pretending that he's her husband, taking him home, and making him get a manual labor job and do chores around the house. Eventually, "Leo" settles into his position and learns to like his new life, even growing to love the girls and Kate. But what will happen when his memory returns and he realizes it's all a ruse?

Is It Any Good?

This gender-swapped remake of the 1980s screwball comedy misses the mark, letting down both the characters and the audience. Garry Marshall's 1987 movie at least gave Goldie Hawn a funny role to play as mean-spirited socialite Joanna; this Overboard gains nothing from switching the roles. Usually hilarious, Faris becomes a put-upon working-class character and saps any potential for fun.

Derbez -- a huge star in Mexico -- struggles to cohere the frantic energy of his comedy with Faris', and his "transformation" into a nice guy is extremely difficult to buy. The supposed chemistry between him and Faris feels forced. No one comes out looking good here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Overboard portrays sex. What values does the movie impart around sex and relationships? What do Leonardo and Kate learn about being together?

  • How does the movie depict drinking? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?

  • How does this remake compare to the original? How does reversing the genders change things?

  • Lying is a huge part of the plot. What do the characters learn about lying?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

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