SNMR 1.17: "Six Days, Seven Nights"

To kick off SNMR's Harrison Ford month, tonight's feature is "Six Days, Seven Nights" (1998, PG-13, 102 minutes), starring Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, David Schwimmer, Jaqueline Obradors and Temuera Morrison. The film was directed by Ivan Reitman.

The first time I watched this movie was probably shortly after it came out on video, in December, 1998. Ex and I rented it only because Harrison Ford was in it. Since then I've seen it many times.

From the DVD's dust jacket:

Big screen favorite Harrison Ford stars in this nonstop adventure hit about a dream vacation that turns into a hilarious tropical nightmare! A gruff, rough-hewn cargo pilot living in the islands, Quinn Harris (Ford) hates tourists...Though he's not above making a fast buck from a sharp-tongued New Yorker, Robin Monroe (sexy Anne Heche - Volcano, Wag the Dog), when she's desperate for a quick flight to Tahiti! But this already uneasy relationship suddenly takes a nosedive when his weather-beaten old plane is forced down in a storm! Now, stranded together on a deserted isle, Quinn and Robin quickly discover all the perils of paradise. As this mismatched pair find themselves facing danger at every turn, you're sure to find their misfortunes fueling one of Hollywood's most entertaining action-comedy hits in years!

From Martin & Porter's DVD & Video Guide 2006, p. 1037:

Star power doesn't keep this underimagined South seas romantic-comedy buoyant. Harrison Ford and Anne Heche crash on an uncharted island, where r=they're chased by pirates and fall in opposites-attract love because the screenplay says they should.

Despite the fact that I can't stand the whiny David Schwimmer, there's enough comedic situations and dialogue in this film to make it interesting. Anne Heche is very sexy, even though she's a mediocre actress at best. I like the fact that Harrison Ford can be selective in his roles and can pick quirky stuff just for fun, which this role obviously is. I think the plane, a DeHavilland Beaver, is cool and Ford is actually a licensed pilot - so any flying scenes are not done by stand-is, but by Ford himself. The writing is all right, though the romantic match between Ford and Heche is a bit unrealistic and far fetched, since she's almost half his age. Allison Janney's small role was excellently done. There are worse ways to spend the hour and forty two minutes. In my opinion, this movie does exactly what it is supposed to - entertain in a light hearted way. I'm going to give this fun little film three out of five stars.