Overboard (1987)

The Scene: Buh-Buh-Buh-Buh

Why We Love This Scene: As you may have heard, comedy writer, producer, actor, and director Garry Marshall pass away yesterday. As a producer and writer he is best known for giving us the TV hits: The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy and some flops: Joanie Loves Chachi and Makin’ It. Not a shabby career if you ask me. Lately he’s been busier with directing feature films, specifically rom-coms set around holidays like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve but he has also made The Princess Dairies, Beaches, The Runaway Bride and Pretty Woman. So essentially he made a lot of women want to laugh and cry. Again, not a shabby career at all. But the man knew comedy and did it well and for that he deserves a salute.

My favorite movie of his is, hands-down, Overboard starring Hollywood power-couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Our love and admiration for Kurt Russell knows no bounds and the guy can entertain us in anything whether it’s action-adventure or comedy. Especially comedy. And not enough love is given for Goldie if you ask me. She made some great female-driven comedies in the late 70s and 80s like Private Benjamin, Protocol and Wildcats and she is an accomplished comedienne. But Overboard is one of those dopey-premised romantic comedies in the style of the old classic screwball comedies. Man and woman don’t get along, they go through an ordeal together and come out falling for each other. Except in Overboard, the twist is, sure they don’t get along at first but Russell’s character takes advantage of the fact that Hawn’s Joanna has amnesia and claims she’s his wife; more or less for the purpose of cooking, cleaning and taking care of his boys.

It’s a cute and fun little comedy that is often overlooked these days but it’s a solid comedy and has great funny moments. Both Hawn and Russell have great chemistry (no shit) and are equally entertaining in this. 

But while you may have seen Overboard a hundred times growing up on HBO like we did, you probably never realized it was directed by Garry Marshall and I don’t blame you. I also never realized he directed Beaches, Frankie & Johnny, Dear God, Exit to Eden or even Pretty Woman! Shame on my part. Rest in peace Garry Marshall.

Here’s my favorite scene of Overboard, one I often quote when I have an exhausting or frustrating day. I also love how the kid is throwing grapes at a catatonic Hawn’s face without her flinching. What a hilarious little shit that kid was.