Mercedes McNab

Escape From Atlantis (1997) (TV)

Directed by Strathford Hamilton

Writing credits (WGA)

Arne Olsen (written by)

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure / Comedy (more)

Plot Summary: A world unlike any you’ve ever known! Matt Spencer (Jeff Speakman), a workaholic attorney and single father, is struggling to raise his three rebellious teenagers in the wake of his wife walking out on him. Chris Spencer (Breck Wilson), Matt’s eldest son, is a handsome, over-achieving, straight-laced 18-year-old who is angry with his father about the divorce, even though his mother is the one who left. Daughter Claudia (Mercedes McNab) is a typical 16-year-old mall rat with too much time on her hands and the good looks that usually spell trouble. Youngest son Adam (Justin Burnette) is a hip 13-year-old with a big mouth and a smart-alec attitude to go along with it. In an attempt to bring his family together again, Matt charters a sailboat for a 10-day surprise cruise to the Bahamas. The kids, selfishly un-excited about the trip, try to talk their father out of it, but he is steadfast in his determination to spend some quality family time together. Upon landing in Florida, the Spencers arrive at the dock to board the Wind Dancer, a beautiful 90-foot sailboat that, according to the brochure, perfectly combines "performance sailing and luxury living." Not quite! It turns out to be a rundown, yet still seaworthy schooner, complete with mildewy sails and a hull that is in desperate need of a paint job. The ship’s captain, Liam Gallagher (Tim Thomerson), is a salty, bedraggled man who drinks too much and seems to be in worse shape than his vessel. Not one to be deterred, Matt, having been convinced the Wind Dancer has passed a recent safety inspection, sets off with his family on a bigger adventure than any of them had planned.

Summary written by Brendan Hill

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Speakman .... Matt Spencer
Tim Thomerson .... Liam Gallagher
Justin Burnette .... Adam Spencer
Mercedes McNab .... Claudia Spencer
Breck Wilson .... Chris Spencer
Michael Lee Gogin .... Widge the Magician
Al Harrington .... Argus, Temple of Morpheus Prisoner
Brian Bloom .... Joriath
Brian D. Kline .... Quan
Kristina Anapau .... Katriana (as Kristina Roper)
Richard McPherson .... Xander
Geoff Heise .... Kyron
Lisa Tiffany .... Maiden #1
Jo Pruden .... Lubella
Tom Matsusaka .... Wayaku

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for fantasy adventure violence.
Runtime: 97 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color
Certification: Australia:M / USA:PG-13

User Comments:

bullions27 USA

Date: 27 March 2002

Summary: Pretty damn awful

I know it’s a Power-Rangers gimmick and catered to 7 year olds but really why were they taking themselves seriously with this movie? If they are going to write a plot with crayons, at least have the decency to make it silly. It’s kind of hilarious if you watch this. We have a typical family filled with cliched characters (father a war veteran who lost his wife and blames himself LOLOL), air-head children trying to hard to fill the stereotype but fails with horrendous acting, and a laughably horrid sidekick who serves no purpose to the movie but to fill camera space. Funny stuff!

However, the real great moment comes near the end when war-dad and bad-acting-villain try to work a sword fight, but then they realize none of them know how to (probably because no room in budget for choreographers), so they come up with this American Gladiator type setting to run around in. LOL.

1/10 rating because they try to treat this seriously.