Boat Trip

Two men with faltering love lives hatch a plan for a sun drenched escape hoping a week at sea will spark romance. Jerry Robinson, a suave but unlucky salesman, teams up with his friend Nick Ragoni, a quick witted flirt who believes charm solves everything. They picture endless sunsets and easy conquests as they sail toward romance, only to discover they’ve boarded a cruise designed for LGBTQ travelers. The misbooking turns their male fantasy into a social blender of awkward conversations and new friends. Along the way they befriend Gabriella, a savvy crew member, and Felicia, a sharp traveler whose stories challenge their assumptions. What started as a simple plan becomes a playful test of friendship and desire.

Directed by Mort Nathan, Boat Trip released in 2002. The screenplay is credited to William Bigelow and features Cuba Gooding Jr as Jerry Robinson and Horatio Sanz as Nick Ragoni alongside Roselyn Sanchez, Vivica A Fox, and Maurice Godin.

Reception was mixed, with critics noting brisk pacing and ensemble energy while others felt the humor relies on stereotypes. The film explores friendship under pressure and dating fantasies clashing with a social scene that defies the original plans.

Boat Trip represents an early 2000s mainstream comedy that centers an LGBT setting within a glossy studio package. It sparked conversations about representation and humor in cinema of the period, illustrating both appetite and discomfort with boundary pushing jokes. It remains a time capsule.