Going Overboard (1989) follows Shecky Moskowitz (Adam Sandler), a struggling comedian working as a waiter on a cruise ship. The ship is hosting a beauty pageant, and Shecky dreams of becoming a famous stand-up comedian. However, the ship’s resident comedian, Dickie Diamond, refuses to give him a chance. When Dickie locks himself in the bathroom, Shecky seizes the opportunity to perform, but his act bombs, and he’s ridiculed by the audience.
Meanwhile, a subplot involves General Noriega, who sends two incompetent assassins to kill Miss Australia after she insults him. Shecky, with the help of King Neptune (a hallucination), gains confidence and uses humor to outwit the assassins. In the end, Shecky saves the day, wins over the audience, and gains the respect of the passengers.
Production and Budget:
Going Overboard was made on a shoestring budget of approximately $200,000, a remarkably low figure even for the late 1980s. The film was shot on an actual cruise ship, which helped save on production costs. It was Adam Sandler’s first feature film, and he was still an unknown actor at the time. The movie was directed by Valerie Breiman and produced by Crown International Pictures.
Release and Reception:
The film was released directly to video in 1989 and failed to make a significant impact. Critics panned the movie for its lack of structure, poor production quality, and weak humor. It holds a very low rating on review aggregator sites and is often considered one of Sandler’s worst films. However, it gained some attention years later due to Sandler’s rise to fame.
Success Story:
While Going Overboard was a commercial and critical failure, it marked the beginning of Adam Sandler’s career. Despite the film’s shortcomings, Sandler went on to become one of Hollywood’s most successful comedic actors, proving that even a rough start can lead to a stellar career.
