The Love Boat II (1977) by director Hy Averback was the second pilot movie for the hit television series of the same name. While it is a cute little film with many funny little moments today it's probably just as enjoyable for its 70s kitsch value, a nostalgic look back at a long gone era.
Elaine Palmer (Hope Lange) is a bored and frustrated housewife. She has decided to leave her frequently inattentive businessman husband Stephen (Robert Reed) and take off for Acapulco with her new gigolo tennis-pro boyfriend Roger (Lyle Waggoner). The only problem is that now her husband has found out and was able to make the boat at just the last second. Eva McFarland (Celeste Holm) is a lonely, divorced middle-aged woman trying to start over in life, her daughter Pat (Marcia Strassman) has brought her aboard to forget about her troubles and maybe find some romance. Eva does run into an old romantic flame in ex-Navy Captain Robert Grant (Craig Stevens) but when he doesn't even recognize her after they accidentally bump into one another it's not a good start. Donna Morley (Diana Canova) and her little sister Linda (Kristy McNichol) are aboard too. Donna is also looking for romance and doesn't have time for a kid sister that is following her around everywhere and ruining her chances at finding it. But it isn't long though before Linda herself is looking for romance when ship's Purser Burl "Gopher" Smith (Fred Grandy) becomes the unlikely object of her affection. Ralph Manning (Bert Convy) is a womanizing accountant who has now gave up his wandering ways and wants to settle down for good with the ship's Cruise Director Sandy Summers (Diane Stilwell). But Sandy doesn't want to have anything to do with him believing that old dogs can't be taught new tricks. Dr. Jim Berkley (Ken Berry) also has a dilemma, he really likes "Your Lounge Entertainer" comedienne Amy Mitchell (Candice Azzara) but is really shy and can't find anyway to approach her until one night (after having a few too many) he finds an interesting and original way to get her attention.
This was the second pilot film for what would become a huge hit and long-running series on the ABC Television Network. While most of the basic elements of the show are already there ABC still needed to do some fine tuning before it would become the much loved and fondly remembered series that it is today. Notably missing in this film are Captain Stubing (Gavin MacLeod) and Cruise Director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes). The memorable theme music is also there but had yet to acquire the now famous lyrics. This was only Kristy McNichol's third film and like the rest of the cast her part wasn't written to be ground breaking or have much depth, just to provide an hour or two of lighthearted television enjoyment, and at that level this movie does succeed. If you loved the show then you'll like this film as well, which presents a 1970s television classic still in an early growing phase. All in all an amusing little movie that's certainly enjoyable enough if you recognize it for what it is, just unabashed frivolous fun.
Buying note: This film has never been available on commercial home video; there are however other sources for this film as well as many other rare Kristy McNichol movies that you might be looking for.
3-7-2007
