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Rescue from Gilligan’s Island (1978) starring Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Dawn Wells, Natalie Schafer

Rescue from Gilligan's Island - Bob Denver - Jim Backus - Alan Hale Jr. - Natalie Schafer - the seven castaways are back in civilization ... but are there troubles finally over?
In 1978, the first Gilligan’s Island reunion show was filmed, and is now available on DVD. The basic plot is that a Soviet satellite (yes, this is the tail end of the Cold War) crashes on the island, the the Professor uses a piece to build a barometer, which he uses to discover that the island is going to be devastated by a tsunami! That’s bad! No, that’s good, because the castaways can lash their huts together as a large raft, and use the tsunami to move them out to the shipping lanes, where they can be rescued! That’s good! No, that’s bad, because the rest of the film deals with how unhappy the castaways are back in civilization—Mary Ann doesn’t want to marry the fiancee she left behind, Ginger doesn’t want to do nude scenes in movies, the Skipper’s fighting with the insurance company, etc. And, they have to keep out of the grip of Soviet spies who are trying to recover a piece of the satellite that Gilligan’s wearing as a good luck charm.

On the one hand, it’s not a bad film, and there are many funny moments. On the other hand, there aren’t enough of them. If you a Gilligan’s Island fan, check it out from your library, or buy it to complete your collection—but don’t expect it to be as funny as the classic Gilligan’s Island series.

On the positive side, nearly the entire cast was reassembled for the movie (except for Tina Louise), and the repartee between the Skipper and Gilligan seems as fresh as ever.

Funny movie quotes from Rescue from Gilligan’s Island

Mary Ann: He didn’t mean any harm, Skipper.
Skipper: Neither did the ice berg that sunk the Titanic.

Mr. Howell: Captain, can you give me one good reason why you haven’t put up the sail?
Skipper: Yes, Mr. Howell, we haven’t got a sail.
Mr. Howell: Can you give me another good reason?

[The castaways are planning to tie their huts together to make a raft]
Skipper: Only question is, will it have enough bottom?
Gilligan (Bob Denver): If that’s the question, Skipper, you sure got the answer.

Gilligan (Bob Denver): Hey Skipper, why don’t you donate your pants? When they fill with air, we can fly to Hawaii.

[The seat of the chair the Skipper is sitting in has been varnished]
Skipper: What could be stupider than varnishing the seat of a chair?
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Sitting in the seat of a chair that’s just been varnished.

[Spotting a Coast Guard helicopter]
Skipper: I can’t believe it. After 15 years, we’re finally rescued.
Mr. Howell: Rescued.
Mrs. Howell: Rescued.
Ginger Grant: Rescued.
Mary Ann: Rescued.
Professor: Rescued.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Rescued.

Dean: We’re expanding. This will be the biggest university on the west coast.
Professor: But we’re on the east coast.
Dean: That’s how big I want it to be.

Professor: Miss Ainsworth, turn off your macho!

[last lines]
Gilligan (Bob Denver): [after the castways have been re-stranded] What’s wrong, everybody? We’re home again!
Skipper: Yes, Gilligan,
[shouts]
Skipper: we’re home again!

Professor: [about the tsunami] Mind you, I haven’t worked out all the details.
Mrs. Howell: I have one thing to say to you, Professor. Work out the details.