The Mosquito Coast (1986)
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75% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
56% of users liked it
(14,682 ratings)
Harrison Ford delivers one of his most-acclaimed performances in Peter Weir's adaptation of Paul Theroux's novel (scripted by Paul Schrader). Ford plays Allie Fox, an inventor embittered by the blighted landscape of the contemporary United States. As he tells his oldest son, Charlie (River… More Harrison Ford delivers one of his most-acclaimed performances in Peter Weir's adaptation of Paul Theroux's novel (scripted by Paul Schrader). Ford plays Allie Fox, an inventor embittered by the blighted landscape of the contemporary United States. As he tells his oldest son, Charlie (River Phoenix), "Look around you. It's a toilet." He moves his wife (Helen Mirren) and kids -- Charlie, Jerry (Jadrien Steele), April (Hilary Gordon), and Clover (Rebecca Gordon) -- to the rain forests of Central America, where he plans to create a new civilization starting with his own nuclear family. Allie's family compliantly goes along with his scheme to build a free society, but slowly notices that his obsession has turned him into a tyrannical fascist. Rather than create a utopia, Allie's driving egomania demands total subservience from his downtrodden brood. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Peter Weir
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Dec 1, 1986 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
A stretch for Ford, but worth it. Unique and fascinating character study.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Examines the consequences of a father's egotism on his family.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Meandering film that doesn't really seem to know where it's going or what it is.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
It's a testament to Ford's talent that we actually care what happens to him, because in a lesser actor's hands, we'd be hoping that some cannibalistic natives would eat him.
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Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
It's easy to forget how well Harrison Ford can play an unlikable character.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Harrison Ford
as Allie Fox
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Helen Mirren
as Mother
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River Phoenix
as Charlie
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Jadrien Steele
as Jerry
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Hilary Gordon
as April
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Rebecca Gordon
as Clover
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Andre Gregory
as Rev. Spellgood
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Dick O'Neill
as Mr. Polski
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Martha Plimpton
as Emily Spellgood
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Melanie Boland
as Mrs. Spellgood
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Michael Rogers
as Francis Lungly
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Jason Alexander
as Clerk
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Raymond Clare
as 1st Convert
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Tiger Haynes
as Mr. Semper
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Butterfly McQueen
as Ma Kennysick
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William Newman
as Capt. Smalls
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Conrad Roberts
as Mr. Haddy
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Alice Sneed
as Mrs. Polski
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Abel Woolrich
as Mercenary
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Jorge Zepeda
as Mercenary
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Margaret Cho
as Verny
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Rafael Cho
as Leon
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Sofia Cho
as Alice
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Aurora Clavel
as Mrs. Maywit
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Emory King
as Man at Bar
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Juan Antonio Llanes
as Mercenary
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Michael Opolu
as Bucky
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Louis Palacio
as Peaselee
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Wilfred Peters
as Dixon
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Aldolpho Salguero
as Drainy
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Tony Vega Sr
as Mr. Maywit
- Dianne Crittenden

