Okay, picture this: wandering the aisles of the local video rental shop, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, the smell of popcorn and plastic tape cases in the air. Your eyes scan the romance or adventure section, and there it is – that cover art promising sun-drenched beaches, turquoise waters, and youthful discovery. Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991) might not have recaptured the lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenon of its 1980 predecessor starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, but for many of us browsing those shelves, it offered another alluring glimpse into a tropical paradise, a fantasy escape conveniently packaged in a chunky VHS cassette.
### Another Generation Adrift
Picking up almost directly where the first film left off – resolving the slightly ambiguous ending by confirming the original lovers, Emmeline and Richard, sadly didn't survive their rescue – Return to the Blue Lagoon introduces us to their infant son, also named Richard. Along with the widowed Sarah Hargrave (Lisa Pelikan) and her own baby daughter Lilli, they find themselves shipwrecked (again!) on the very same idyllic South Pacific island. Directed by prolific TV movie helmer William A. Graham and penned by Leslie Stevens (creator of the original The Outer Limits, quite the genre shift!) based on Henry De Vere Stacpoole's work, the setup feels immediately familiar, perhaps a little too familiar for some. Sarah valiantly attempts to raise the children, teaching them the basics of survival and "civilized" behaviour, before succumbing to illness, leaving the now adolescent Lilli and Richard to fend for themselves.
Enter a very young Milla Jovovich as Lilli and Brian Krause as Richard. They essentially recreate the journey of the previous film's protagonists: navigating puberty, discovering love, and living in blissful isolation, seemingly unaware of the wider world. It’s hard not to feel a sense of déjà vu, but there's also an undeniable visual appeal. The film returns to the stunning filming location of Taveuni, Fiji, and cinematographer Robert Steadman (who also shot the original The Blue Lagoon) once again captures the breathtaking landscapes – the lush jungles, cascading waterfalls, and pristine beaches are characters in themselves. You can almost feel the tropical heat radiating from the CRT screen.
### Paradise Found, Critics Lost
Let's be honest, Return to the Blue Lagoon wasn't exactly a critical darling. Pulled ashore with a dismal 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and currently sitting at a 5.2/10 on IMDb, it faced accusations of being a pale imitation, lacking the original's spark (and controversial notoriety). It also struggled at the box office, recouping only about $2.8 million domestically against its estimated $11 million budget – a far cry from the original's massive $58 million haul. Critics panned the repetitive plot and often clunky dialogue. Indeed, the film earned itself five Golden Raspberry Award nominations, including Worst Picture and Worst Director.
Yet... despite the critical drubbing, the film found its audience on home video. Why? Part of it is undoubtedly the sheer escapism. Who didn't daydream about living on a tropical island, free from homework and chores? Milla Jovovich, just 15 during filming (opposite a 21-year-old Krause), shows glimpses of the screen presence that would later make her an action icon in films like The Fifth Element (1997) and the Resident Evil series. Brian Krause, who would find TV fame in Charmed, brings an earnestness to the role of Richard. Their burgeoning romance, though following predictable beats, is handled with a certain sweetness, capturing that awkward, innocent intensity of first love against a backdrop most teens could only dream of.
### Retro Reflections and That VHS Charm
Watching it now, Return to the Blue Lagoon feels like a time capsule of early 90s sensibilities. The approach to the characters' awakening sexuality is more cautious than the controversial 1980 film, though it still courted discussion. Reportedly, body doubles were used for Jovovich in some of the more revealing scenes, navigating the complexities of depicting adolescent characters in such a scenario. The inevitable arrival of civilization, represented by a passing ship and its crew, brings the expected conflict and forces Lilli and Richard to confront the world beyond their isolated Eden. The plot might be thin, but the themes of nature versus nurture, innocence versus experience, still resonate, albeit superficially.
One fun tidbit: the marketing leaned heavily on the connection to the original, with taglines like "The Story of Natural Love Continues." It was trying desperately to recapture that magic, even if the recipe felt a bit diluted. For many renting it back in the day, perhaps spurred by memories of the first film or simply drawn by the promise of romance and scenery, it delivered a passable, if forgettable, couple of hours. It was the kind of movie you might watch on a lazy weekend afternoon, half-dreaming of your own island adventure.
Rating: 4/10
Let’s be clear: Return to the Blue Lagoon is not a hidden gem of cinematic brilliance. Its plot is recycled, the dialogue often induces winces, and it lacks the raw impact (and controversy) of its predecessor. However, through the warm, fuzzy lens of VHS nostalgia, it holds a certain charm. The stunning Fijian scenery is undeniable, and watching a pre-superstardom Milla Jovovich navigate this tropical soap opera is intriguing. It earns points for its earnestness and its status as a quintessential early 90s video store staple – the kind of visually pleasant, dramatically lightweight fare perfect for escaping reality for a bit.
It may not be high art, but sometimes, a return trip to a familiar, sun-kissed shore – even a critically panned one – is exactly what a nostalgic afternoon calls for. Just don’t expect profound revelations, maybe just a reminder of simpler times and impossible tans.