Dinosaur Island

Dinosaur Island has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 4/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Ross Hagen is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Dinosaur Island keeps coming up in conversation. Dinosaur Island gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Welcome to lush Dinosaur Island, where a tribe of gorgeous cavedwelling warrior women satisfy the exotic fantasies of five downed military airmen. Fearsome battles with the island's ferocious maneating dinosaurs are the only disruption of their seductive pleasures on this island paradise. Narrowly surviving with their lives, the rugged men fall under the seductive spell of their lovely captors and soon find their every dream fulfilled. Ross Hagen and Richard Gabai lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1994. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Dinosaur Island holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Dinosaur Island. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Ross Hagen sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.