THE STRAIGHT DOPE:
Everyone knows the story of Gilligan's Island. Five passengers and two crewmen start off on a three hour tour of Pacific waters but get stranded on a deserted island (although one with a lot of unexpected visitors.) There they remain for many years, having wild hijinks and misadventures. The classic sitcom is in perpetual reruns all over the world and is a genuine pop culture landmark. Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History attempts to tell the story of the making of the show in a way that reflects the goofiness of the show itself.

The format of Surviving Gilligan's Island is pretty unique. Dawn Wells (Mary-Anne), Russell Johnson (the professor) and Bob Denver (Gilligan) narrate the program, appearing as some sort of mix between the off-screen selves and their characters (Wells bakes coconut pies in a bamboo kitchen) while young actors play them in behind-the-scenes vignettes. Sometimes the real actors address the actors playing them directly. It's all very daffy.

Actually, Surviving Gilligan's Island is pretty charming. There isn't a lot to tell about Gilligan's Island. The biggest hurdle was just getting it on the air (Anonymous network suits reject the show numerous times before they give creator Sherwood Schwartz (who also appears) a chance to prove them wrong) but still the colorful sets, costumes and the wacky performances of the actors help the film along. Kristen Dalton (who plays Tina Louise playing Ginger) in particular has a way of being a little sleazy and a little aloof at the same time that works, especially when displaying her contempt for the material. Also worth noting are the spot-on recreations of Natalie Schafer, Jim Backus and Alan Hale by E.J. Peaker, Steve Vinovich and Eric Allan Kramer, respectively.

Surviving Gilligan's Island never quite gets over itself; it always thinks its central idea is an hysterical one. And, given this conceit, it falls flat whenever it reaches for a serious moment (like Mary Anne's disappointment at being cropped off a TV Guide cover or, most ridiculously, in a "very special" moment recalling the cast's depression at hearing that President Kennedy had been shot. Everyone who lived through it remembers where they were when they heard but no one should care where Bob Denver was.)

Still, the film has more than a few pleasurable moments, like Mary Anne and Mrs. Howell out for hot dogs after a long day's shoot. Like the show it memorializes, Surviving Gilligan's Island is a trifle, but a cute and entertaining one.

VIDEO:
The full-frame video is fine. It looks like broadcast TV quality. The colors are pretty vibrant and the picture is crisp.

AUDIO:
The Dolby Digital 2.0 audio is fine, professional sounding TV audio. Voices are clear and the loopy sitcom-style music works.

EXTRAS:
The disc is pretty packed with features that will be of vary degrees of interest to the fan and casual island watcher. Dawn Wells' home movies are interesting at times, especially when they show the show's set from a new perspective, although segments from her home life may not be too exciting outside of her immediate family. A detailed listing of the show's scant 98 episodes should help remind viewers of some of their favorites. Side-by-side comparisons of original scenes with their remakes from Surviving Gilligan's Island are pretty cool. They did a good job of aping the show's production design and costumes. Outtakes and casting session clips are also included, as are a photo gallery, "themed island recipes" and a trivia game. There are also a few easily found easter eggs that might elicit a chuckle or two.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Surviving Gilligan's Island is probably a dream for the Gilligan's Island junkie. Even though it doesn't contain footage from the classic show it does get the vibe right. Using the real cast members (well, some of them) as hosts was a great idea. If Surviving Gilligan's Island had only consisted of recreations of the original's period with new actors the whole program would probably have amounted to very little. But with Wells, Denver and Johnson subverting the conventions of the behind-the-scenes TV format it's actually a fun, funny romp.