Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Heiress Joanna Stayton hires carpenter Dean Proffitt to build a closet on her yacht—and refuses to pay him for the project when it's done. But after Joanna accidentally falls overboard and loses her memory, Dean sees an opportunity to get even.
Overboard is a charming but formulaic romantic comedy elevated by the genuine chemistry between Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. The amnesia-revenge-turned-romance premise is inherently contrived and ethically questionable, which limits the plot's credibility even within its lighthearted framing. Hawn and Russell are charismatic and watchable, delivering above-average performances for the genre. Cinematography is functional at best—pleasant Pacific Northwest scenery but no distinctive visual craft. The film has a certain nostalgic distinctiveness from the lead pair's real-life chemistry, but it doesn't stray far from late-80s romantic comedy conventions. The ending resolves predictably without any real surprise or earned emotional payoff, wrapping up neatly but without resonance.