What a waste of my time!!!

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

As a longtime Gilbert and Sullivan fan, this movie should have been agonizing to sit through. I learned of it through someone else's review of it and then decided to watch the thing from start to finish. And I couldn't believe it: I was being entertained. Barring the obligatory pop-culture references and horse manure joke, the movie has a sense of humor that speaks to me in a way few other movies do. For example, I don't care what anyone else thinks, the song "Pumpin' and Blowin'" is one of the funniest things ever.Even though I cherish the original Pirates of Penzance, I liked the added songs with the exception of Frederic's solo, and that was more dull than unbearable. I was also pleasantly surprised with all the dialogue from the original they kept in. I admit the movie drags in parts (mainly in the section right after "Pumpin',") but Kristy McNichol's lively performance holds it together more than anything else. She feels real, for lack of a better word, and has a great deal more agency and delight in her own existence than many film heroines then or now. One of my favorite scenes is where she tries to seduce the Pirate King, if only for the reason that I can't believe it was made. I really can't decide whether The Pirate Movie should be called So Bad, It's Good or just plain good.

Mabel Stanley (Kristy McNichol) is a homely shy teenage girl who comes with her outgoing friends to a pirate festival. The bare chested swordplay instructor (Christopher Atkins) invites her on a boat ride. The girls take him and the boat out leaving Mabel behind. She tries to catch up in a small sailboat and falls into the sea. She's washed up on a beach dreaming an old timey pirate fantasy. Frederic (Atkins) is the young apprentice of the Pirate King (Ted Hamilton) but he refuses to join them on his 21st birthday. Pirates had killed his parents and vows to exterminate all pirates. They send him off on a row boat. Mabel is the youngest daughter of Major-General Stanley (Bill Kerr) and by custom must be the last to marry.It definitely is high on the cheesy camp factor. It's fun and delightful if you're in the mood. Who isn't in love with McNichol back then? And Atkins is fully in his hunky beachy curly hair. It is self-aware and a fun broad spoof. If you're a Gilbert and Sullivan purist, this is going to grate on your nerves. How dare they spoof such an institution as 'The Pirates of Penzance'. I say why not. Pumpin' And Blowin' gets the Razzie for the Worst Original Song. It tells me people either get the joke or hate the joke because the song itself isn't bad. It's just ridiculous which makes this movie an easy target.

Having said that, suspend your reality and just enjoy the film for what it is - corny, campy, a bit ridiculous but a lot of fun. It's one of those films that take you back to the time when you first saw it - when values and entertainment were different. I understand how the 'now' generation would write this off - they compare it to what's on offer today. So, remember it was the 80's and enjoy it for the music, the innuendo's and costumes! Even better - try and download the lyrics from the website, get a group of people together and have a sing-a-long viewing - you could do a lot worse and trust me you'll have a good time, even if you don't want to admit it!

Honestly, it's been my experience that unless you were able to first view this movie as a child (6 or so)and fell in love with it then, there's a good chance your opinion probably won't reflect the same enthusiasm. I still love this movie! But I've shown it to a couple of my friends and they weren't so thrilled, but then again it's one of those "let it go" movies. You kinda just have to open your mind a bit, realize it's Supposed to be goofy like that! But there are those people out there that can't get over themselves and admit they actually did kinda like it.Regardless, I still stand firm on my rating. It is goofy and silly, and it makes me feel like a kiddy little 6 year old in my fantasy world! And the many hidden sexual innuendos (which I came to understand eventually)keep me in my adult shoes.