In real life Allie Fox's decision to leave the U.S., whose corruption and commercialism he noisily denounces every hour on the hour, would be greeted by sighs of relief by all who know him. Heading for Central America, are you, Allie? Upriver, you say? In the jungle? Well, good luck to you, boy. Send us a postcard if you get a chance.
Unfortunately, The Mosquito Coast (based on Paul Theroux's 1982 novel) is not a postcard. It is a movie, recording in painful detail the self-righteous Allie's trek toward a predictable tragedy, herding his long-suffering family before him as he goes....