Overboard (2018) * * *

Directed by:  Rob Greenberg

Starring:  Anna Faris, Eugenio Derbez, John Hannah, Eva Longoria, Emily Maddison, Mel Rodriguez

Like its 1987 predecessor starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, Overboard is a charming comedy in which the tables are turned on an insufferable jerk and then the jerk learns how to be a better person.    The original film was not only funny, but had some expert supporting work from Edward Hermann as Hawn's husband and Michael Hagerty as Russell's best friend and co-conspirator.   In the 2018 version, the roles are reversed.    The working class hero is Kate (Faris), who schleps out a living delivering pizzas and cleaning carpets while raising three girls and studying to be a nurse.    One day, she is cleaning carpets on a massive yacht owned by rich, jerky, chauvinist, hard partying playboy Leonardo (Derbez), who fires her after she refuses to fetch him a mango.    Leonardo, son of the "third richest man in the world", has never worked a day in his life and would like to keep it that way, but later that night, he falls overboard and washes ashore with amnesia. 

Upon learning of Leonardo's condition, Kate and her boss Theresa (Longoria) concoct a plan to convince Leonardo they are actually married so she can have him earn a paycheck while also leaving all the household chores to him.    At first Leonardo is overwhelmed, but soon not only learns to work construction, but cook, clean, and act as a real father for the girls.    Kate and Leonardo (get it Titanic fans?) fall in love and become a quasi-family, but of course reality will soon intervene.    The reality in this case is Leonardo's family.   Leonardo's ailing father wishes to leave the business to him, while Leonardo's scheming, envious sister hatches a plot to convince her family Leonardo is actually dead so she can win control of the company.    The scenes with Leonardo's family become an intriguing subplot all its own.

Those who saw the original won't be surprised by any developments here, nor would anyone who has seen a romantic comedy before either.    But, the film's charms fall with some interesting tweaks.   Derbez, like in last year's underrated How to Be a Latin Lover, is a strong physical comedian with a heart.    He isn't afraid to look foolish for a laugh, and yet, despite his being a spoiled rich guy, we know there is a better person in there somewhere.    When the better Leonardo emerges, we are surprisingly touched.    Faris is more or less the straight person in the duo, but she is likable as well even though she is essentially committing some felonies by tricking Leonardo.    But, let's not let that get in the way of the fact that Overboard works well even the second time around.