Despite a somewhat interesting character study and some thought-provoking ideas, "The Mosquito Coast" is a tough watch simply because it is a boring movie. Harrison Ford's character is also despicable in this movie and I never found him likable in any capacity, and there is really no reason to root for him. I think it would have been fine if he did something interesting but all of his actions were just frustrating. Overall, the movie did have the potential to be something more interesting, but the end result is just a bit of a snooze fest and ultimately failed to leave an impact on me.

A hugely underrated movie Harrison Ford gives a superb performance of a very complicated man who it's very hard to like. Helen Mirren also puts in a strong performance as his kong suffering wife who struggles to cope with her husband's decent into madness. If you haven't seen this movie ignore what the Media critics say I did and discovered a really engrossing film that I have revisited several times.

Arguably Ford's best performance. I think the reason the movie is still not well liked in some circles is because his character is so deeply unlikable and the script plays against his star power. Also the movie doesn't indulge the fantasy of rejecting modernity which audiences won't easily forgive.

A fascinating film. Its critique of the U.S. in the 80's still rings true, explained by a charmingly frantic Harrison Ford. It doesn't totally work as a whole, but it's an interesting ride.

This is what I remember about this film. I couldn't watch it all the way through. It was horrible back then as it is today. One of the few movies that I stop watching, going on 40 years.

Gutwrenching adventure-gone-wrong family yarn - the twisted flipside of Swiss Family Robinson. Extremely true to the celebrated novel, but with more warmth and humanity. River Phoenix unfurls an understated Oscar-worthy performance as he watches his father methodically get lost in an egotistical mentally-ill maze of his own making. Hits you in the stomach and the heart - MANDATORY VIEWING FOR ANY CHILDREN OF HARD-CORE PREPPERS!!!

This movie really takes its time to make you sit in the world that Allie Fox creates. It's almost atmospheric in that way. Harrison Ford is enthralling, especially when what you know him from is primarily Star Wars. He experiences his own personal Heart of Darkness and pulls his family along with him. I can't say that I loved this movie, but it was way too interesting to write off.

Allie Fox (Harrison Ford) is an eccentric inventor who has become dismayed with the perceived disintegration of American society. Together with his wife (Helen Mirren) and four children (one of which is River Phoenix in his first notable role), the family moves to Central America, where they purchase a village and set out to create their own utopia, to predictably disastrous results. On the surface, the movie looks great, filled with solid performances, an interesting story, fascinating locations, and lush cinematography. If there is a problem, it is the fact that the central protagonist is a repugnant narcissist who is impossible to relate to. Had the film focused primarily on the wife or one of the children and used the father as a dramatic foil, it probably would have been much more compelling. As it is, we're left with not much more than a bunch of lambs following a sheep through the jungle.

Back in the 1980's - 1990's we probably watched this movie about 8-9 times. It was interesting, strange, curious and more and the incredible acting of Harrison Ford was intriguing. Makes it hard to even want to watch the update. Not interested in the 1980's movie anymore, but back in the day it was so interesting.

I'm very torn on this movie. On one hand, it has incredible acting from all of the characters, phenomenal cinematogrophy, and an overall interesting story. On the other hand, the last 20 minutes of the movie are absolutely ridiculous and extremely unsatisfying. I'm not saying that every movie has to be a happy ending, but it should at least be somewhat fulfilling or satifsying. I can't really say it's worth your time to watch.

If you like mosquitos, then you'll like this movie. Ha. Mosquitos have really nothing to do with the movie. Its the place where an idealistic, anti-American, anti-religious, inventor, selfishly drags his family, essentually making them his victims. It shiuld be classified as a black comedy because the inventor does after come up with an invention, an air conditioner that can make ice, with a fatal flaw, its highly unstable and explosive. Perfectly stupid.

Just bizarre. Harrison Ford gave an excellent performance, but the rest of the cast were bland. The film dragged on a bit despite the relatively short runtime, the kid narration wasn't a good choice, it didn't make any sense how the family took so long to stand up to Allie, and the idea of making a massive ice machine in the jungle was far fetched. They tried to make things eventful, but it was all pretty repetitive. The ending was also predictable considering that Allie was an unlikeable character who was bound to take things too far. Finally, the cinematography and visual effects were fine, but the soundtrack was a bit too synthy.

One of Harrison Ford's best performances. Intriguing premise and story. Love the setting. Takes you away.

Very under-rated film about Allie Fox, a man who becomes disillusioned with American life and moves his family to the Latin American Jungle where, with the help of the locals, they temporarily build a kind of utopia, until the local missionary and some rebel soldiers interfere. Complex film features some strong performances, particularly from Ford as the intelligent, yet unhinged, Mr Fox.

Very well made, pro-liberal-Establishment, anti-religion affair. It successfully indicts the Far Left of their hypocrisy and fundamentally broken, idealistic principles, while unsuccessfully indicting as a whole those opposed to our modern, hand-to-mouth culture and authentic Christianity. But a well-made and thought-provoking movie is just that. And Peter Weir accomplishes this in spades.

This is definitely one of Harrison Ford's Best piece of acting. He is brilliant as Allie Fox. The movie itself starts off great, but it does sort of fall apart at the end...much like the character played by Harrison Ford. River Phoenix does a really nice job with his character and voice over work. A much younger Helen Mirren is great as "Mother". This movie will not be for most people, but if you want to try something a little different check out this movie.

Ford is really good the film is just ok.

It can be seen as a genius gone horribly mad and abusive, or it can be seen as a genius who has always been blind to his ignorance and ethical rationality towards humanity and his family.
Kudos to Ford and his supporting cast to pulling off this tough cast of characters, but as stated earlier, the film can either work or not work at all if you consider what is being established during its first one-third runtime.

Reviewed 9.3.19 Harrison Ford plays Allie Fox, a man fed up with American commercialism, and his fear of inevitable nuclear apocalypse. His solution is an idyllic and pure existence in the depths of the African jungle. In his blind spot is the truth; he is still born of American idealism. Unfettered ambition. The idea that we can go it alone. That we can invent our way out of everything. And an arrogance born out of white privilege. All this back in 1986, talk about prescient. River Phoenix is coming to his own on screen, alongside an always stellar Helen Mirren (stuck with an underwritten role in this case). Conrad Roberts adds character as the charming Mr. Haddy. And Ford drops all of his swashbuckling charm, to find the tortured soul of a brilliant inventor, short a few emotional screws. The film didn't fair well upon release. It's didn't fit the Harrison Ford mold, or perhaps it just hit too close to home for the 'Me Generation,' at their zenith. Also, the mid-80's weren't exactly a great time for risk-taking in major releases. But with terrorist attacks, school shootings, climate change catastrophe...the story is rife for a reboot. Allie Fox would have a field day. The execution doesn't always equal the concept. But with a forward thinking script, solid acting, a lush setting, and director Peter Weir in his warm-up phase (Dead Poet's Society and The Truman Show were to follow), it's an adventure worth taking, no matter the pit falls.

i prefer cannibal holocaust