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Mr. Rourke and Tattoo are back, but even back-in-the-day Fantasy Island lovers might have a rocky time with this TV-on-DVD set....
Shout! Factory / 1080 Minutes / 1979-1980 / Unrated / Street Date: October 23, 2012
Don’t get me wrong; I love Ricardo Montalban. As Khan, the mean-and-nasty intergalactic psychopath obsessed with tormenting William Shatner’s Admiral Kirk in The Wrath of Khan, Montalban brought some of the most devilish glee (and the biggest man-boobs I’ve ever seen) to the screen. Able to be both Don Juan and Mephisto in the same breath, he’s able to balance his charm and his deception with exemplary prowess.
But while it's of course part of Ricky's iconic status (and therefore somewhat important), the only word that truly works when describing Fantasy Island is: yikes.
Maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up with the show, like so many Fantasy Island fanatics, but this Complete Third Season set was absolutely impenetrable for my tastes. Herve Villechaize – as Tattoo, Montalban’s trusty wingman – provides a few goofy laughs here and there, but even if this go-round showcases the series moving with a cheeky, confident swagger (it was a ratings maven), I can't get behind it.
I mean, it's wonderful to see folks like Abe Vigoda, Bob Denver, and even David Cassidy do cameos throughout this Complete Third Season, but after just a few episodes here, I was ready to call on Khan to have those crazy trilobites burrow into the ears of everyone involved.