4 out of 10
A strange film dealing with a detached college student (played by a young Christopher sporting a very big mop top) who is out of sync with his environment. He escapes by imagining that he and some of his friends are a couple of modern day pirates. They sail to an island that is inhabited by an adult population that eventually prove to be quite hostile.
This certainly does rank as an interesting curio. The story and pace are eccentric and yet still manages to work. It does have a tendency to meander and some may find the whole thing boring and meaningless. Yet it remains strangely compelling and outside of a few corny songs has a good music score that works well with the action. The low budget is a problem and could explain why the fantasy segments really aren't very fantastical. Yet the filmmakers do a good job at filming everything with a wide variety of camera shots and angles. It gives the illusion that everything is new and different and keeps an otherwise limp story flowing.
The message itself isn't bad, but it tends to work more on the emotional side. It taps into the need for individuality and independence. The need to live life on ones own terms versus the responsibilities one has when living in a society. It specifically analyzes the college age when one isn't a child, but not quite ready (or willing) to embrace the adult world. They certainly do have an engaging free spirit and the film seems to take this on with it's very free form style. It may all just revert back to the whole 'hippie vs establishment' thing that permeated the era when this was filmed, which was actually 1970. Yet the film still seems very fresh and some of the philosophical discussions are interesting. The aloof ending though pretty much ruins everything.
Christopher scores in his first film appearance. He seems to get more into it as the film progresses. His role is insightful as it shows how on the outside he seems to be very rule bound, but on the inside he is actually quite free thinking. Busey is also fun in one of his early roles.
The weird title is actually in reference to a line that is said throughout the picture. It bears a special significance at the very end.
