The Legend of Johnny Lingo Movie Review 2003

Orphaned as an infant, Tama winds up on a remote South Pacific island where he is initially revered as a god but ultimately is cast aside. He befriends Mahana, and when he decides to sail away in search of a better life he assures her that he'll come back for her. Washing up on another island, he meets a well-to-do trader, Johnny Lingo, who becomes his life mentor and aides him in fulfilling his promise. Drawing from Patricia McGerr's "Johnny Lingo's Eight-Cow Wife" and the 1969 film short "Johnny Lingo" by Wezel O. Whitaker, rookie director Ramirez holds to the tale's feel-good essence but drifts astray in the execution.

Distribution

MGM Home Entertainment, 2500 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404-6061, Phone: (310)449-3000, Fax: (310)449-3100, URL: http://www.mgmhomevideo.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 95 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Adapted from a Story, Adventure Drama, Coming of Age, Pacific Islands

Screenplay

Riwia Brown

Cast

George Henare, Joe Folau, Rawiri Paratene, Kayte Ferguson

Cinematography

Allen Guilford

Director

Steve Ramirez

Music

Kevin Kiner