Main Cast: Chris Elliott, Ritch Brinkley, James Gammon, Brian Doyle-Murray, Brion James
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 81 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Former NBC intern and Get a Life creator Chris Elliott stars as the title character, a recent graduate of the exclusive Fancy Lad Academy who unwittingly boards the wrong sea vessel and ends up a whipping post for its gruff, foul-mouthed crew after his predecessor (Andy Richter of The Late Show) falls overboard. Over the course of their adventures, Elliot eventually earns the respect of the crew as he also earns his manhood. This supremely silly film features sight gags and tastelessness galore, including a love scene with a woman who's all hands -- literally. Elliot's old boss David Letterman appears in an amusing unbilled cameo as a sarcastic villager in port. In all, Cabin Boy works much in the same vein as Elliot's former TV show; a crass sense of humor is helpful for full appreciation. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
Review
Though detractors of Chris Elliott should be warned to maintain a safe distance from the film that offered him in his first leading fancy-lad role, those who can appreciate his bizarre, sometimes mean-spirited sense of humor are in for a treat if they're willing to give this film a chance. Critically disembowelled upon initial release and destined for cult status, this love-it-or-hate-it high-seas comedy is sure to entertain fans of Elliott's all-too-short-lived television series Get a Life. Utilizing the same off-kilter humor and outlandish dialogue that drew Get a Life such a loyal cult following, Elliott populates his otherworldly comedy with such absurd characters as a giant tobacco-chewing cupcake and a half-man/half-shark, all the while offering a protagonist who is neither endearing or sympathetic and salty crew of sea-faring rogues who take pleasure in humiliating him. Though it's often said that a film needs a protagonist who can win the affection of the audience, the absence of such a character is exactly what makes the humor in Cabin Boy so effective. With his snide comments and snippy attitude, the humor lies in the fact that the audience wants to see Elliott's self-important fancy-lad cut down to size and then some. Produced by Tim Burton and bearing his influence in its colorful and bizarre look, the film also possesses an endearingly synthetic visual scheme that lends it a notably surreal quality. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Daniel Lomino - Art Director, Nanci B. Roberts - Art Director, Debi Manwiller - Casting, Sharon Bialy - Casting, Colleen Atwood - Costume Designer, Adam Resnick - Director, Jon Poll - Editor, Barry Bernardi - Executive Producer, Steve White - Executive Producer, John S. Engel - Production Designer, Steven G. Legler - Production Designer, Steve Yaconelli - Cinematographer, Tim Burton - Producer, Denise Di Novi - Producer, Stephen Alesch - Set Designer, Roberta J. Holinko - Set Designer, Adam Resnick - Screenwriter
The project was originally to be directed by Tim Burton, who had contacted Chris Elliott after seeing Get a Life episode "Neptune 2000". Writer Adam Resnick took over the direction after Burton was offered the film Ed Wood.
Elliott plays a virginal snobby "fancy lad" school boy named Nathaniel Mayweather, who, upon graduation, mistakes the fishing ship The Filthy Whore for the Queen Catherine, a luxury cruise liner bound for Hawaii. Mayweather learns of his mistake only after the ship sets sail, so he is forced to do his best to convince the four filthy seamen to take him to Hawaii to be reunited with his hotel-owner father, played by Elliott's real life father, Bob Elliott.
Nathaniel convinces the ship's cabin boy, Kenny, to change course for Hawaii, but when they land in a storm in Hell's Bucket, Kenny is knocked overboard and Nathaniel must take over the role of ship's cabin boy. The crew (and accidental passenger) of The Filthy Whore then encounter a number of strange and disturbing beings as they continue on through Hell's Bucket, including an iceberg monster and Chocki the man-shark. Nathaniel also fishes out a woman from the ocean, iron worker and swimmer Trina, played by Melora Walters.
The film includes a brief appearance from Elliott's former boss, David Letterman, as the crusty fishing village sock monkey salesman. He utters his famous line; "Would you like to buy a monkey?" Letterman preferred to be credited as "Earl Hofert" for his role. It also features former Late Night with Conan O'Brien sidekick Andy Richter as the Filthy Whore's dullard of a first mate, Kenny. Cabin Boy also features a brief, uncredited cameo appearance by Alfred Molina as Nathaniel's teacher.
While the film may have been nominated for several Razzies, the film was actually rather successfull. It won every catagory in which it was nominated at the annual Ayers awards for comedy excellence!, including the award for Best performance by Chris Elliot, and the award for Funniest dialog.
Legacy
The film has developed a cult following and a remake starring Michael Cera is possibly in the works.
