Club Paradise (1986)
Sun, Sand, and Slapstick on a Caribbean Dream
Retired Chicago firefighter Jack Moniker (Robin Williams) decides it’s time for a fresh start after a work injury. Using his disability payout, he moves to the fictional island of Saint Nicholas to buy a rundown property and team up with reggae singer Ernest Reed (Jimmy Cliff) to build it up into a resort called “Club Paradise.” They picture a tropical haven but fast-talking developers, scheming politicians, curious tourists, and shady land deals all threaten their dream. Through scandalous land grabs, absurd tourists, local betrayal, and a push for independence, Jack and Ernest fight to keep Paradise from being sold, corrupted, or shut down.
Directed by Harold Ramis, this comedy is a goofball ride full of colorful characters from the laid-back governor (Peter O’Toole), to vacationing housewives, to the self-interested businessman bent on profit. Though the jokes don’t always land, and the structure can feel loose, there’s charm in the scenery, the reggae soundtrack, and Robin Williams’ energy. If you want a movie where chaos and beauty collide in the tropics, Club Paradise delivers a sunny, silly escape.
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Genre: Adventure, Comedy
Format: Harold Ramis
Rated: PG-13
