GarnettTeenage
The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.
ChampDavSlim
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Derry Herrera
Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
Beulah Bram
A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Johnny Lingo" is a 25-minute live action short film from 1969, so only two more years until this has its 50th anniversary, maybe less depending on when you read this review. The film is in color and its director is Judge Whitaker. The one who adapted the original story by Patricia McGerr is Claire Whitaker and I'd be surprised if she isn't related somehow to Judge. He is mostly known for his work as an animator on several Disney classics and from his works as a director this one here may actually be his most known film, even if it is far from famous. I thinks as it is set on an island in the ocean, it is also visually fine, but if we are honest here about the story, that one also would have fit in half the running time. Contents-wise and character-wise, it reminded me a bit of a cartoon, maybe the effect of Whiaker's other works. I believe it also would have worked as a Disney animated short film for example. It's a close call, but thanks to the honorable statement on love and respect that I also mentioned in the title already, I will be generous and give the film a thumbs-up overall. There is no real greatness in here, but it is solidly romantic and touching and most of the production values are decent too. Go check it out. Final note: I won't go into detail about the Mormon references as I really know nothing about these people.
god1-1
Are you guys kidding? This is one of the worst films ever! The acting is atrocious, and there is almost nothing morally redeemable about the film at all. Racist, sexist, imperialistic--c'mon, get a life! The little 'slave' boy, grinning lackey slacker? Who just won't work reliably for the white trader? The idea that women's worth is to be measured on the basis of her looks (though admitting we can sometimes be wrong about it)???? That men set the value of all things, including women? This is truly as bad as it gets. Too bad Mormon children --especially the girls-- have to grow up with this crap.
jepowell
Beyond the tremendous and true romantic love Johnny Lingo proves for his dear Mahana, he gives a tremendous object lesson in how to properly treat others, and bring out the very best in them. If all husbands would treat their wives the way Johnny treated Mahana, there could be no evil in the world.
T.S. Hunter
This movie was made and distributed by the Mormon Church. But, unlike most films that fall into the above category, this movie is not about religion, missionary work, joining any church, etc. and so forth. This short film could have quite possibly been made by anyone. That is what makes it so good. It is a story about a trader coming to one of the small islands of the world to get himself a wife. The island is so small, there is only room enough for one village. There are none of the modern conveniences of the rest of the world, and everything is either built by the villagers or acquired by traders who visit the island by boat and trade for their handmade goods. In this village, it is custom to bargain and pay the father of the bride in dairy cows. This may sound like a serious film, but it really is rather quite funny and has some real classic lines to it that I'm sure will endear you to the film. The story is simple yet original and the flow and pacing for the film is perfect. If you can pick it up, it would be worth the effort.