Lack of good storyline.

Just so...so bad

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Some great talent in 'On an Island With You', and while there are many pleasures one just can't shake off the feeling that it could have been much better.The main attractions of 'On an Island With You' (Technicolor, Esther Williams and her water ballet, songs, Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse) don't disappoint, while the elements where there was a great uncertainty as to whether they would work (story, Peter Lawford, chemistry between him and Williams) don't work.Williams is captivating, she handles the comedy with robustness, has a fetching sensuality that makes one unable to take their eyes off her and she is as ever a superb swimming athlete. Ricardo Montalban is handsome, suave and charming, Cyd Charisse shows off incredible dancing (unsurprising, she was one of the greatest dancers in classic film) and Jimmy Durante's comic timing sparkles.In terms of memorable scenes, the standouts are Williams' "aqua spectacular" water ballet, Montalban and Charisse's smoking hot dance number and Charisse's routine on the staircase. As to be expected, 'On an Island With You' looks fabulous, beautifully photographed and designed and the Technicolor is bold, rich and exquisitely colourful. The songs are pleasant and have an infectious energy, even if they are not quite classics. Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra make a strong contribution. Richard Thorpe directs competently, and energy and charm comes through enough.However, the story is barely there and what there is is contrived and credibility is constantly strained to breaking point. There are some nice moments in the script, like with Durante, Montalban and Charisse but too many places elsewhere fall as flat as a pancake, Lawford's dialogue can be cringe-worthy sometimes here.Lawford is 'On an Island With You's' biggest problem. He looks incredibly out of place, looking hopelessly wooden and miserable, with a lot of his non-existent chemistry with Williams bringing an unintentional creepiness, that would be more at home in another (darker) film entirely and he would even most likely be just as bad then.Overall, 60% of 'On an Island With You' delights but anybody expecting to be thrilled by the romance will not just be deeply disappointed but also disturbed. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Colorful, breezy musical comedy. If it appeals to the sexist in males, it was meant too. Having Esther Williams strut around in a sarong was clearly meant to bring men in to a movie they would ordinarily avoid like the plague. But Williams showing off her great legs with suggestive costumes no doubt had the desired effect. And those out there trying to judge 1940's morality with the viewpoint of the 2016 PC police are just narrow-minded. There are great over the top swimming montages; and great musical numbers from Xavier Cugat; plus Jimmy Durante for Jimmy Duante fans. Williams (Rosalind Rennolds) is set to marry Ricardo Montalban (Ricardo Montez); but Peter Lawford has a crush on Williams and because he flies off with her he if facing a possible court- martial offense, but is rescued by Williams who defends his actions. Montalban is incensed as he has forbidden his fiancée to have anything to do with the Lawford character. What he doesn't realize is that his dancing partner, Cyd Charisse (Yvonne Torro) is in love with him. Watching Charisse dance with Montalban is painful to watch. Charisse was usually paired with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly and must have found working with Montalban like dancing with an elephant. This is still 1940's Hollywood so things work out. The Navy forgives Lawford, and he and Williams swim off together hopefully happy forever after. And Montalban realizes his true match is Charisse.And some might recognize Dick Simmons (George Blaine) in a role he was much more known for, at least by me when I was nine, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.

While Esther Williams never claimed to be a great actress she did well in most of her films. If she had a solid script and good costars her films were usually fun. Unfortunately in this film the script is so weak as to be laughable and Peter Lawford just did not fit the part of the wannabe Romeo. There is no chemistry between them and they just seem to be walking through their parts. Cyd Charisse, as noted by others, is the standout in her dance sequences and Ricardo Montalban is worth watching as well. The usually wonderful Jimmy Durante just rehashes some of his old routines and, while good, is not outstanding. As a final touch even the obligatory water ballet is lackluster. Of all her films this, in my opinion, is the one to miss.

First off, the technicolor is beautiful. The staging is terrific. But anytime I have to watch Esther Williams,the wet one, when someone as attractive as Cyd Charisse is there is a mystery to me. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Cyd broke her leg during this movie, was unable to do the dance sequence herself, and had to drop out of the line-up for Easter Parade, where her part was taken by Ann Miller, not a bad dancer herself. The sappy things that Peter Lawford had to say to Esther Williams were the responsibility of the writers, I suppose, but that didn't make it any easier to listen to. Peter Lawford and Ricardo Montalban were very juicy looking male leads. Cugat's music is timeless, and I guess some people enjoy Jimmy Durante doing the same old thing. This really isn't a bad movie, but musicals, particularly wet ones, need to be excellent to make us forget how artificial the whole thing is.