Although Apple TV has a higher success rate with its original shows than most streaming services, it has still faced its share of disappointment. Case in point: “The Mosquito Coast,” a crime drama starring Justin Theroux as a man fleeing the United States with his family across Latin America. The series was canceled after two seasons and holds a technically fresh (but still disappointing) Rotten Tomatoes score of 64%.
“‘The Mosquito Coast’ works best when you just follow the ride and don’t think too much about the rest,” wrote Robert Lloyd for the LA Times, “But the ride itself gets tedious after a while. Not everything makes perfect sense, nor does it seem vaguely plausible.”
Richard Roeper was even harsher in his review for the Chicago Sun-Times, writing: “When an insufferable man endangers his family and spouts philosophy, it’s hard to care about his adventures on the run.”
Theroux’s main character, Allie, is indeed a bit of a grouch and someone who definitely tests viewers’ patience during long stretches of the series. But this is an intentional characterization taken from the series’ source material, the 1986 film of the same name. The original “Mosquito Coast” starred Harrison Ford as Allie, and his version of the character is also often portrayed as an obstacle to his own family rather than a protector.
Allie was a marked departure from most of the other roles Ford played in the ’80s. “Blade Runner,” “Indiana Jones,” “The Fugitive” and “Star Wars” all wanted you to root for Ford’s character, while “The Mosquito Coast” wanted you to question him at every turn. This is partly why Ford’s own agent reportedly urged him not to take on the role – but Ford ignored her.
Mosquito Coast was not a huge success, either on television or in cinema
Just as the reviews for the TV show “Mosquito Coast” were worse than one would expect for a project helmed by Justin Theroux, the reviews for the 1986 film were worse than normal for Harrison Ford. Vincent Canby of The New York Times described it as “absolutely flat.” Even its exotic melodrama fails to excite the imagination. » Roger Ebert dismissed the idea, asking, “Why was the hero made so uncompromisingly hateful?”
The film has, however, been viewed more positively over time, for reasons that may have to do with what Harrison Ford said about it:
“The reviews have been mixed and I think the film has been very unfairly treated in some quarters. I’ve never seen a serious film treated so poorly by critics. And I think they’re wrong. I don’t mind saying that I’m here to try to counter these negative reviews. It’s disturbing and makes you think. It stays with you.”
Sure enough, it seems like people generally gravitate towards the film once they’ve gotten over their initial distaste for its flawed main character. The film now has a 78% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is often cited as one of Ford’s most underrated films. “The Mosquito Coast,” as a film, has finally received its due; perhaps the reputation of the TV show “The Mosquito Coast” will also improve with time.
