Cabin Boy

Ever since he starred in and created the surreal 1990 Fox sitcom Get A Life, I have been a fan of Chris Elliott. My favorite Elliott project was the absurd 1994 comedy Cabin Boy.

Elliott stars as Nathaniel Mayweather, a rich, snobby brat who has just graduated from prep school and is on his way to Hawaii to work for his dad, real life father Bob Elliott. Instead of boarding the luxury liner that he was supposed to take, he accidentally gets aboard the fishing vessel The Filthy Whore. When the crew discovers they have a stowaway, they force Nathaniel to be their cabin boy. When he gets them off course in hopes of going to Hawaii. the ship has to travel through Hell's Bucket, a bizarre area of the sea inhabited by many strange creatures that put their lives at risk. The dangerous trek and the fisherman lead Nathaniel towards manhood.

This Tim Burton production is very silly and absurd. But is also very clever and original. Heavily influenced by the films of Ray Harryhausen, Cabin Boy plays like a Sinbad spoof. Burton was originally going to direct, but when he thought the humor was too blue, the directing reigns were handed over to cowriter, and long time Elliott collaborator, Adam Resnick.

Elliott plays a variation of his Get A Life character, and he is pretty funny. He has a great supporting cast including Brian Doyle Murray, Brion James, Andy Richter, James Gammon, Alfred Molina, Ricki Lake, Russ Tamblyn, Mike Starr, Ann Magnuson, and Elliott's former boss David Letterman in a hilarious cameo.

This one isn't for everyone, but if you like Elliott's brand of humor, you will enjoy it.

It's available on dvd.