Figure 1.--This is the movie production of the campy "Lost in Space" TV series. As in the TV series, the space family Robinson (a play on Robinson Caruso) is on a journey to colonize space. Jack Johnson plays Will Robinson. His performance is competent, but uninspired.

This is the movie production of the campy "Lost in Space" TV series. As in the TV series, the space family Robinson (a play on Robinson Caruso) is on a journey to colonize space. The movie family is headed for Alpha Prime to establish a colony as part of an effort to save humanity from a dieing planet and extinction. Their mission is sabatoged by the sinister Dr. Smith. They find themselves of course lost in space. There are Cameos by Mark Goddard, Angela Cartwright, Marta Kristen, and June Lockhart, but not Billy Mummy who played Will Robinson from the original cast of the TV series. The movie production has none of the campy humor of the TV series and Dr. Smith in the film is not bumbling, but really evil. The relationship between Will Robinson and the robot is not one of the central features of the plot line as is the case in the TV series--the source of the famous line, "Danger, Will Roibinson". The boy's performance is competent, but I think fans of Billy Mummy and the TV series will be disappointed. The costuming in the film seem particularly uninspired. There is, however, enough excitement and aspecial affects to make the film worth watching.

Filmology

This is the movie production of the campy "Lost in Space" TV series. The film was directed by Stephen Hopkins. It was advertised to attract the "Lost in Space" fans who continued to be devoted to the series. The film, however, has little in common with the TV series other than title and list of characters.

TV Series 1965-68)

A reader reports that all the characters were well-defined, and developed as the show went on. (Unfortunately, Dr. Smith developed from villain to jerk.) The Robot developed a personality all it's own and it sometimes seemed as though he and Dr. Smith were a space-age comedy team. Milly Mummy played the boy and modeled space age fashions. Lost In Space initialy stayed on the thin line between science fiction and fairy tales-but as the show went on, it crossed over into the fairy tale realm much too often. I rather liked this series, but it was sometimes a bit too flippant. The cast Will (Billy Mumy) who often had important roles in episodes along with Dr. Smith and the robot. ("Danger Will Robinson") Will was always very mannerly, quite a contrast to boys on TV now. I wonder if it would've gotten so corny and silly if it hadn't been on opposite Batman for a year and a half? "That does not compute!"

Figure 2.--The relationship between Will Robinson and the robot is not developed as in TV series. The costuming for a scifi film seems especially uninspired.

Cast

The cast included: Lennie James, William Hurt (john Robinson), Mimi Rogers (Maureen Robinson), Gary Oldman (Dr. Smith), Heather Graham (Judy Robinson), Matt LeBlanc (Don West), Lacey Chabert (Penny Robinson), Jack Johnson (Will Robinson), and Jared Harris. Jack Johnson is fairly new in films. His performance is competent, which is more than can be said about some of the other cast members, but rather uninspired. LeBlanc plays pilot Don West. Movie goers will of course compare him to Hans Solo. His performance, however, is particularly weak and as one of the the central characters rather damages the film. There are Cameos by Mark Goddard, Angela Cartwright, Marta Kristen, and June Lockhart, but not Billy Mummy who played Will Robinson from the original cast of the TV series.

Plot

As in the TV series, the space family Robinson (a play on Robinson Caruso) is on a journey to colonize space. The movie family is headed for Alpha Prime to establish a colony as part of an effort to save humanity from a dieing planet and extinction. Their mission is sabatoged by the sinister Dr. Smith. They find themselves of course lost in space.

Costuming

The costuming in the film seems particularly uninspired.

Assessment

The movie production has none of the campy humor of the TV series and Dr. Smith in the film is not bumbling, but really evil. The relationship between Will Robinson and the robot is not one of the central features of the plot line as is the case in the TV series--the source of the famous line, "Danger, Will Roibinson". The boy's performance is competent, but I think fans of Billy Mummy and the TV series will be disappointed. There are special affects, but they are not what one would expect from a major scifi production. The film does have some exciting scenes and is worth seeing as a bit of escapism.

Created: August 9, 2003
Last updated: August 9, 2003