What do you get when you cross a beautiful lass like Phoebe Cates with a former 1980s teen heartthrob, Willie Aames?. Well, an erotic adventure of course! It's exploitation at it's finest and it manages to shine through despite the cheap quality of the whole thing. The two leads didn't leave any lack to be desired during this "sexual awareness" outing where he's a "guilty and shameful Christian" while she's just plain curious. Yeah, a "Blue Lagoon rip off" in more ways than one, but it manages to hold its own distinctive flavor without stealing anything from what inspired it.
As much as I enjoyed this flick, I just couldn't take it seriously. I was actually smirking when the funeral proceedings were held for David's missionary parents after the Jackel's attack with his henchmen. I saw better dramatics than that in an 'Infinity' commercial. What it ultimately boils down to is two helpless, but good looking orphans lost in an arid desert with a chipper, but ailing, Englishman to partially guide them. Once he's gone under barbaric circumstances, they have to rely on each other for support and help and wouldn't you know, an oasis magically appears to help them meet that survival.
There's a utopia time they end up having where it all plays out like a sugary fairy tale with a cute chimpanzee couple thrown in for good measure. They build a hut, have all the necessities they need and seemingly swim a lot. Of course, the Jackal and his gang often appear to disrupt the harmony and it's always, "let's get out of here!" before he arrives. Sarah is even captured at one point, but wouldn't you know, David manages to save her despite his bungling efforts and also having the misfortune of getting stung by a scorpion. He becomes sick from that, but of course, ultimately recovers.
Willie Aames and Phoebe Cates, you have to admit, make a gorgeous couple and they do bring sparks to this otherwise bubble gum adventure where sex and the sun plays a major highlight, but gets weighed down with the conflict often brewing up with the bad guys. There's no balance here, but for those Phoebe Cates fans, this is a major "eye candy" excursion into seeing her at her barest glory. A good view if you like cheap, but arousing entertainment like this.
As much as I enjoyed this flick, I just couldn't take it seriously. I was actually smirking when the funeral proceedings were held for David's missionary parents after the Jackel's attack with his henchmen. I saw better dramatics than that in an 'Infinity' commercial. What it ultimately boils down to is two helpless, but good looking orphans lost in an arid desert with a chipper, but ailing, Englishman to partially guide them. Once he's gone under barbaric circumstances, they have to rely on each other for support and help and wouldn't you know, an oasis magically appears to help them meet that survival.
There's a utopia time they end up having where it all plays out like a sugary fairy tale with a cute chimpanzee couple thrown in for good measure. They build a hut, have all the necessities they need and seemingly swim a lot. Of course, the Jackal and his gang often appear to disrupt the harmony and it's always, "let's get out of here!" before he arrives. Sarah is even captured at one point, but wouldn't you know, David manages to save her despite his bungling efforts and also having the misfortune of getting stung by a scorpion. He becomes sick from that, but of course, ultimately recovers.
Willie Aames and Phoebe Cates, you have to admit, make a gorgeous couple and they do bring sparks to this otherwise bubble gum adventure where sex and the sun plays a major highlight, but gets weighed down with the conflict often brewing up with the bad guys. There's no balance here, but for those Phoebe Cates fans, this is a major "eye candy" excursion into seeing her at her barest glory. A good view if you like cheap, but arousing entertainment like this.