Those who gained their initial fame on television -- even at the highest level and with top popularity -- have often found their feature films finishing at the other end of the scale. Bill Cosby and Ray Romano are two examples of this -- Bill Murray one of the few exceptions.

Chevy Chase has had some sporadic success, and even Martin Short -- one of the comedic geniuses of all-time -- has found his big-screen offerings sporadic.

I think one of the reasons is that we are just too used to seeing them on the small screen, and/or in the characters/personas with which we have become accustomed. It also seems that their films often seem to be stories which would lend them to 10- or 12-minute skits, or the 22 minutes or so contained within a half hour program.

Chris Elliott avoids this completely in this funny presentation. He succeeds in taking this character over-the-top, with the same quirky skill we've seen him employ on television so often.

At 80 minutes, he also avoids making it overlong, and the supporting cast and Letterman's cameo are all well-presented, too.

It's "quirkiness" is likely the reason this film didn't receive a higher overall rating in this site, and among professional reviewers.

However, for me it's a thoroughly entertaining and engaging movie, and best of all, funny as hell.

Proudly wearing his "Fancy Lad" description, over-cultured and prissy prep school graduate Chris Elliott (as Nathanial Mayweather) goes to board a ship bound for Hawaii. He expects to join his wealthy father, but mistakenly gets on "The Filthy Whore" and is unable to get the crew of four salty and soused fishermen to change direction. After becoming a replacement for dim-witted "Cabin Boy" Andy Richter (as Kenny), Mr. Elliott befriends shapely swimmer Melora Walters (as Trina) and shark-man Russ Tamblyn (as Chocki). David Letterman has an amusing cameo during the early running, before this comic ship sinks. Too bad for Mr. Elliott, who once had a good persona going with his "Get a Life" TV series.

*** Cabin Boy (1/7/94) Adam Resnick ~ Chris Elliott, Melora Walters, Russ Tamblyn, Ritch Brinkley

I had long been a fan of Chris Elliot up until I saw this film. I loved his tenure on THE David LETTERMAN SHOW (back when it was fresh and still funny)--his guy under the stairs and fugitive guy were cute little sketches. Then, when he went on to do GET A LIFE, I watched every episode--even that later ones that weren't quite as funny. So, because of my appreciation of his work, I had very high hopes for this movie. Then, I saw that a little Chris Elliot goes a very long way. A movie starring him just isn't all that funny--particularly one with no real laughs--just him behaving like an idiot. For five minutes or even 30 minutes, this is fine--but for an entire movie? It's like the absolute worst and unfunniest thing Elliot's ever done--stretched into movie length. SLOW and OVERBEARING--not funny at all.