User reviews

Although there had been hints of it before with Kurt Russell, in Captain Ron he breaks out with a full blown comedy. In the title role Russell creates a character, a raffish sort to rival Cary Grant in Father Goose and Charles Laughton in The Beachcomber. Not to mention Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou, John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn and the best of all Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen.

Martin Short and his wife Mary Kay Place inherit a yacht that was once owned by Clark Gable and I'm sure if the boat could talk it could tell some fabulous tales. It's in dry dock in The Bahamas and in need of repair to put it mildly. But fix it and flip it as they say in today's world and get someone to pilot it to Florida.

Who Short and Place get is Kurt Russell the legendary Captain Ron who's seen and done all. At least according to him and the tales get taller as Russell imbibes. But he sure has Place enchanted their daughter Meadow Sisto is a believer and he's really got their young son Benjamin Salisbury ready to go to far away places with him.

I won't go into it, but the castaways on Gilligan's Island never faced anything like what Kurt Russell puts Short and his family through in their '3 hour tour'. I'm sure Clark Gable and Carole Lombard and anyone else whoever sailed on this craft never had a saga like Short, Place and their kids have.

Everyone performs well and I have to say Martin Short must have been a great sport about essentially being Kurt Russell's straight man. As for Russell you can see what attracted him to the part, a chance to have a seven course meal on the scenery and not be criticized for it as the role calls for it. It's an actor's dream.

Kurt Russell is having fun and the fun is infectious for the viewer.

Captain Ron is a real cheesy, but fairly enjoyable family comedy. Martin Short inherits a yacht and convinces his family to accompany him to pick up his boat and to have a family vacation. The boat does not exactly live up to Martin Short's expectations and the agency interested in buying the boat hires local Captain Ron to lead the voyage across the Caribbean. Kurt Russell gives a great over the top performance as our beloved captain. He is a likable, crazy seaman who at times borders on inept, but still gets the job done. Martin Short's character is an uptight weenie, of which our hero Captain Ron drives crazy during the course of the film. This brings to mind Bill Murray classic What About Bob?, where Bill Murray drove Richard Dreyfuss nuts while simultaneously winning the favor of the rest of the family. There are occasional nods to Overboard as well. I am not trying to convince anyone that Captain Ron is of the same quality of the classic comedies I have just mentioned. However, Captain Ron is still fun to watch and there are many far worst movies out there.

Splashy adventures in the Caribbean as a mild-mannered big city businessman suddenly inherits a yacht and talks his reluctant family into a spontaneous month-long sea voyage. Martin Short is the oft-frustrated family man, whipped and stifled by the corporate world, who almost instantly regrets hiring his polar opposite (a mostly shirtless, mulleted, eye-patched Kurt Russell) to teach his family how to control their new toy. Most of the fun lies in watching Russell do whatever he wants - flirting with the wife and daughter, teaching the son to drink and gamble, pushing the boat to the point of disintegration - which rankles the father who sees himself being replaced by a newer, hipper model.

There's nothing world-shattering here. It's a simple recipe that coasts on easy laughs and nice scenery, but at least it has a unique angle and a decent amount of heart. Short is vanilla and snobby as the leading man, prickly and unlikable, but that's how the character is written. Russell, on the other hand, pushes an overshadowing support role, one which could've easily been just as grating, into something more personable and endearing. We buy into Captain Ron's world philosophy because the actor also buys into it.

As formulaic, predictable family comedies go, one could do far worse. Bonus points to those who choose to lean into the winking urban legend that this is how Snake Plissken relaxes between escapes.

Ignore all the stuffed shirt, up-tight pinheads who couldn't loosen up if a gun was held to their collective heads. Treat this movie as it should be...FUN! This is the film that keeps us going through the winter until sailing season...then we take the video along on board.

Martin Short and Kurt Russell are TERRIFIC together, and Mary Kay Place? Who'd have known what a versatile actress she is, after all, most of us only had Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman to judge her by. The kids certainly do add a fine finishing touch to this hilarious crew.

This movie was not created to win an academy award, it was created to be lighthearted and fun and it far exceeded that goal.

Martin (Martin Short) and Katherine Harvey (Mary Kay Place) live in the Chicago suburb with their kids Caroline and Ben. His deceased uncle leaves him a yacht once owned by Clark Gable worth $250k. The only catch is that the boat is on the island of Ste. Pomme de Terre and they need to get it to Miami. Martin wants to bring the whole family to sail it but Katherine balks until Caroline comes home announcing her engagement to a leather jacket dude. The boat looks worst than expected and the broker hires local slobbish Captain Ron Rico (Kurt Russell).

The family annoyed me at the beginning. I don't like the kid. He's not only a brat but he gets on my nerves. The girl is almost as bad. The married couple can bicker as long as it's fun. The family doesn't have the fun chemistry. I like Captain Ron a bit more. The odd couple feel between Martin and Captain Ron has some fun moments but the movie is not nearly funny enough.

This movie begins with a man named "Martin Harvey" (Martin Short) and his wife "Katherine Harvey" (Mary Kay Place) inheriting a sail boat once owned by Clark Gable. The only problem is that they have to sail it from a small island in the Caribbean called Pomme de Terre to a port in Miami to have it surveyed in order to sell. However, once they get there they find that the boat is in great disrepair and unable to sail it themselves they hire a local sailor named "Captain Ron" (Kurt Russell) to help them out. What they don't realize is that Captain Ron is a complete idiot and is liable to get them all killed before they ever get to Miami. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that a friend recommended this movie to me many years ago and upon eventually watching it I found it to be as good as he said it was. I especially liked the acting of Kurt Russell who was absolutely hilarious. In any case, those who are looking for a good light-hearted comedy might want to check this one out and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.

This is one of my favorites. So much so I ran out and purchased it. I'm puzzled as to why this movie was not rated higher, it is at least on a parr with DAVE, NINE MONTHS, GROUNDHOG DAY and THE BIG LEBOWSKI. I liked all those movies and CAPTAIN RON is just as good. Kurt Russell's performance is hilarious and keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what he will do next. I would never have seen this movie based on the score it was given, lucky for me I saw the movie first. Terrific, hilarious and enjoyable entertainment. Don't miss this one.

"Captain Ron" is a very good comedy with Kurt Russell as the title character running away with the film. Martin short plays Martin Harvey who is the straight man for some of the humor, and the cause of some of the funny antics. Mary Kay Place is good as Martin's wife, and the rest of the cast are fine.

This a fun little adventure through the Caribbean as the Harvey's get stuck with Captain Ron to steer a wooden sailboat they have inherited from a remote island in the southern Caribbean to Miami. There, they play to sell it. It had once been owned as a yacht by Clark Gable.

Captain Ron knows about sailing, having served in the Navy. But he looks and acts more like a beach bum than a capable captain of a boat or ship.

Most of the humor here is in the antics and various scenarios the group encounters in their seaward adventure toward Miami. The script does have some funny lines. One of the best is on a remote island when Captain Ron warns Martin to stay on the path back to the boat because of guerillas. Martin springs one of his superior knowledge fiascos on the group when he says there are no gorillas in the Caribbean - they are only to be found in Africa. He knows that from years of subscribing to National Geographic Magazine. Later, he returns in front of a band of guerillas clad in khaki uniforms with guns pointing at him. It's funnier than all get out as he tries to convince his family and Captain Ron that the captain had clearly said gorillas - with a "gor," not guerrillas.

The film has some nice scenery and sailing shots. It was filmed in and off the coast of Puerto Rico.

Kurt Russell is a very competent actor. He has been in the Hollywood business since his childhood. Honestly, he should be able to see what movies would do well and what wouldn't. And like any other actor, he has made his fair share of mistakes; Soldier (1998) is one of those mistakes. However, I can not excuse him for (pardon the pun) missing the boat on this stinker. At least in Soldier (1998) Russell had a reason for not giving his character a lot of charm. Here, Russell is given a chance, but doesn't look like he put in a lot of effort. Perhaps he thought that what he was giving, was enough. I don't know.

The plot is about a family who learns they have inherited a valuable boat and decide to take it upon themselves to sail it back to the US so they can get their money's worth. Low and behold, they end up being stuck with a native, Captain Ron (Russell), to lead them back to the US. The thing is, it's never specified if Captain Ron IS a captain. He's more like a klutzy half drunken sailor. This is the whole joke of the movie, and it falls flat right when Kurt Russell enters the frame. It just doesn't work. There's no charm or a spark of inventiveness. Nothing.

Unfortunately, the other characters aren't any better either. Co- starring with Russell is Martin Short, another veteran actor. Ask me why he chose this movie, I couldn't say. Short plays the father, Mr. Harvey, and originally he doesn't mind Captain Ron but gradually begins to see that he isn't really qualified for the job. This kind of friction isn't really a recipe for comedy. As I sat through this, I just became frustrated with how dysfunctional the Harvey family and Captain Ron was. Just utter chaos. I'm surprised any of them were able to make it back to the US in one piece.

The comedy aspect of this movie is extremely weak as well. Nothing is funny here at all. The gags are actually more obvious in a literal sense; you can see actors preparing on screen for an upcoming gag! Even weirder was how bad of a role model Captain Ron was to the children of the Harvey family. Not to mention that the parents barely objected to anything he did. Great parenting. Which brings me to another point - the rating. I understand this movie was rated R for language and some nudity but really? I honestly think it would have been funnier without it. I mean, what purpose does a child actor have in a movie if the age restriction is only for adults 17 and up? There's no connection with the audience. This is why the screenwriter, John Dwyer, has only this movie to his credit. It is by no means well written at all.

As for the music...what music? The composer, Nicholas Pike, who has done a large number of scores, provided barely anything for this movie. No theme, no emotion, nothing. All the audience gets, is native music. Fine, but it is at the most random of times and doesn't lighten up the mood of the movie much, if at all. The only saving grace in this movie is Kurt Russell as bad as he is. The scenery is nice, as well as the native cultures displayed throughout, but that's it. This boat is a sinker to the bottom.

By far, this is Kurt Russell's worst movie. The music is barely there, the humor is sorely unfunny and the characters have no charm.

Kurt Russell is one of those actors that can play a variety of roles, & get away with it. Action, drama, & comedy. He must of been thinking of Jack Burton from 'Big Trouble In Little China' & but some of that into this movie. 'Captain Ron' is a great movie! The plot is simple, & so is the movie. That is what make sit so much fun. Yes, most of the movie is translucent, but it works so well. Kurt Russell shines as Capt. Ron Rico, who has been hired by the Harvey family to be the drive their boat from a Carribean Island to Miami, FL. While he bumbles from one scene to the other, Capt. Ron manages to be successful in the end. All of this makes Martin Harvey(Martin Short) furious, while his family loves Capt. Ron. Lots of laughs.

When I was a kid, I saw this movie going around and thought "Who would ever want to see that?" Critics at the time kind of savaged it, too, as I recall.

Honestly? I don't know why, but the mood struck me, and I ended up watching it. And... actually, I thought it was pretty fun. Sure, it's a little by the numbers. But also... not completely? I had just enough wiggle room that things I figured would be setups for easy jokes actually weren't.

Kurt Russell plays what I would describe as a "natural scumbag." Which is to say the point of the movie is that he's some kind of disgusting horrible monster, and instead he's just... a guy. A little rough around the edges, sure. But I've had uncles and grandpas that were basically this guy.

In that light, it's definitely more that this rich, affluent family from Chicago are more the film's monsters. I'm not exactly digging deep for this read, sure, but when it's becoming clear that they're not just restoring the boat but learning how to sail and take care of themselves, I was actually genuinely rooting for them.

Maybe that's the movie's ultimate failure: the characters aren't pushed far enough. Captain Ron himself isn't enough of a salty alcoholic, and Martin Short's family aren't sheltered enough suburbanites. Everybody's a little too human for this kind of comedy, which is maybe where it starts to feel a little basic. It could stand to be a little punchier.

But... I dunno. It worked for me more than it didn't. Sometimes you bite into the most plain piece of white bread and it totally hits the spot, y'know?

This was a disappointment. It is amazing that it was compared favorably by some reviewers here and on other sites with Master and Commander - there is absolutely no comparison. I had hoped it would at least be to sailing what Caddy Shack is to golfing; didn't happen. Weak plot, pathetic script, "me-centered" teens expecting the world to revolve around them while struggling to become reprobate, improbable (impossible) plot shifts. The 2 stars are for sailing in beautiful waters. It is hard to understand that when so many positive elements were there - budget (obviously), talented actors, nice looking boat, great locale, that Hollywood cannot pull together a script and plot. I almost purchased it, glad I only rented on it Amazon Prime and saved $4.

Captain Ron IS the all time favorite comedy in our family. I laugh just thinking about "Captain Ron". How movies like this just get lost in the shuffle is beyond me. Don't the right people know a good thing when they see it? Don't miss seeing it again, again, again******** A 10!

This movie is worth watching. I think some negative reactions are from disappointed expectations rather than the movie not being actually good. One problem is that it's marketed as a comedy but I don't really see it that way. It's one of those movies that is more amusing than laugh out loud funny. I notice that, in spite of its apparent low rating here on IMDb, there are many enthusiastic reviews here and only 4 that trash it.

Obviously, much of the fun is in watching Kurt Russell and Martin Short. Regarding Kurt Russell, the guy is a major star and goes waaaay back to the 60s as already a major star. If you are a fan of his (as 40+ years' worth of people are), you will enjoy watching him cut up in this whacky role. He's a lot of fun and since I've been a fan since 1967's Flubber, I really enjoyed his entire performance.

I'm a big Martin Short fan but so often his roles in movies are restrained, e.g. The Three Amigos. I'm not really sure what he is shooting for in that persona, but if you like him he can come across as charming in whatever he says or does. In this case his character is again restrained, the straight guy, and on the annoying side, plus he's a little bit of a loser. None of that seems like a formula for success and I don't really think the character or performance works all that well but since I like him he comes across as charming for me.

The movie is largely an adventure and it works on that level. A lot of things go wrong and I don't like that type of movie but it doesn't hit that close to home for me because I've never tried to quit my job and take a boat across the world. So the situations seems so outlandish that I can laugh them off without feeling Martin's pain.

Anyway, as many others here have said, it's pretty good and especially if you're a fan of either or both of the stars, it's worth watching.

Captain Ron (1992) C-100 min. D: Thom Eberhardt. Kurt Russell, Martin Short, Mary Kay Place, Meadow Sisto. Unfunny `comedy' about inept sailor Russell, who takes Short and family on a cruise. They run into pirates, violent storms, and cannibals. Don't waste your time! RATING: 2 out of 10. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, violence, and strong language.

"Captain Ron" was shown on cable recently. Not having seen it, and having no clue what was all about, we decided to take a look. The film was targeted for a young age group, and it's obvious that type of viewer will have a great time with the adventures of this family and the inane captain they have hired to bring them from the island of St. Pomme de Terre, in the Caribbean, to Miami, where they intend to sell the relic for an obscene amount of money.

Well, things don't go the way Martin Harvey planned. When he gets to see the old boat he has inherited, he and the family are shocked. They decide to take a chance with a man who calls himself Captain Ron, to take them on the sea voyage back home. Of course, the Harveys got a lot more than what they bargained for.

The film has some funny moments as directed by Thom Eberhardt. By casting Martin Short, as the somewhat straight laced Harvey, goes against type, because he is usually the funny man. Instead, they let that go to Kurt Russell, who as Captain Ron, has some surprises for the family, and for us. Mary Kay Place plays the mother and Benjamin Salisbury and Meadow Sisto are seen as the Harvey children.

Going to the film with no expectations will, perhaps, work better than having preconceived ideas. This is a film that children of all ages will have a good time.

This is one of those stinky formula flicks of the time designed to make suburban dads feel cool. Hoped for so much more as a fan of Russell and Short. Painfully predictable and high on the corn scale.

When I watched the preview I was turned off. While channel surfing I found this on TBS. The film put me into a good mood and I laughed. Russel as Captain Ron is hilarious. Only Russel could pull of this role. I can not explain the humor, but describe it as a Russel comedy. 7 or 8 out of 10.

Martin Harvey, a middle-class Chicago office worker, inherits a yacht which once belonged to Clark Gable from his recently deceased uncle. Martin, who longs for some adventure in his dull life, makes plans to take his family to Sainte Pomme de Terre, the improbably-named Caribbean island (it means "Saint Potato") where the yacht is currently stationed, and sail the yacht back to Miami to sell it via a firm of yacht brokers. His wife Katherine originally is opposed to his scheme, but changes her mind when their 16-year-old daughter Caroline announces her engagement to a young man of whom she does not approve.

There are two problems with the plan. The yacht, although basically seaworthy, turns out to be shabby and dilapidated, and therefore less valuable than Martin had hoped. Also, Martin and the family know nothing of the sea or sailing, so need a professional captain to sail the yacht for them. And the titular Captain Ron, the man supplied by the brokers, turns out to be only slightly more competent than the Harvey family. He has only one eye and is frequently drunk. He claims to be a US Navy veteran and to have been helmsman on the USS Saratoga, but the truth of this statement is doubtful as he has only a basic knowledge of seamanship and a complete inability to navigate. Martin takes an instant dislike to Ron, whom he names "Moron", but Caroline and her younger brother Ben think he is wonderful. The film follows the adventures of Ron and the Harveys as they make their way across the Caribbean to Miami.

Captain Ron is played by Kurt Russell who four years earlier had made another comedy with a maritime theme, "Overboard". The two films, however, are very different in quality, "Overboard" being superior by far. One criticism commonly made of "Captain Ron" is that Martin Short, an actor specialising in comedy, is miscast as Martin Harvey, who plays the straight man to Russell's comic character; it has been suggested that the film might have been improved had Short and Russell exchanged roles. We cannot know what the film might have been like had this been done, but it might well have been an improvement. Ron is supposed to be basically likeable, but I found that Russell played him as such an idiot that I could not warm to him, hoping that he would end up marooned on a desert island, or forced to walk the plank, or suffering some other suitably nautical punishment for his being such an all-round prat and endangering the family's lives through his incompetence.

Another weakness is that the film has more plot than it knows what to do with. The family have a number of adventures, any one of which could in itself have formed the basis for a whole film. Martin is captured by guerrillas while exploring an island. The family are arrested by the authorities who suspect the of being in collusion with the guerrillas, and have an encounter with pirates. Nothing is really made of any of these incidents, however, all of which are brushed off too easily.

When the film first came out in 1992 it was unpopular with both audiences and critics, in my view deservedly so. It has not aged well and today comes across as one those dull nineties comedies which fail to amuse and which it would be kinder to forget. 4/10

A goof (or perhaps a plot hole). Martin is kidnapped after being warned by Ron not to go into the forest that there are guerrillas there. Martin mishears this as "gorillas" and, knowing that gorillas are not found in the Caribbean, dismisses the warning on the basis that Ron does not know what he is talking about. Yet how does Ron know that there are guerrillas in the forest? His lack of navigational skills means that he does not even know what island they have landed on.

This is wonderful movie, one of my favorite movies of all time! A family inherits a sailboat and decides to flee the urban rat race. They don't realize that they will have to over come many hurdles, including aspects of them selves, Capt. Ron, the boat and the environment.

The daughter plays a teenager that is simultaneously apathetic and nearly out of control. The son is a kid who hasn't taken an interest in life until now. The father assumes that Capt. Ron can't know anything while the family begins to believe that it's the father who doesn't know anything.

This movie was one of the triggers to me moving to a tropical island to live, oh and to buy a boat.