Surviving Gilligan's Island

That the careers of Dawn Wells, Russell Johnson, and Bob Denver have floundered since this series went aground, coupled with the fact that Denver insists on still wearing that juvenile sailor's cap in public, suggests that they have not completely survived Gilligan's Island. But those who fondly remember this silly show will happily sit right back and enjoy this 85-minute tour behind the scenes of one of television's guiltiest of pleasures. Part retrospective and part docudrama, this oddly entertaining film charts the ups and downs of the series that ran for three seasons (98 episodes) and lives on in syndication. Wells (Mary Ann), Johnson (the Professor), and Denver (Gilligan) share their memories, while actors portraying the original cast members play out the backstage dramas (Tina Louise, in particular, comes off as a prima donna who apparently thought the series was about a movie star who was stranded on a desert island with six other castaways). Sure to be popular with baby boomers, this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include Dawn Wells' home movies, outtakes, casting clips, a trivia game, a guide to all the episodes, island recipes, and more.] Aud: P. (K. Lee Benson)