Customer Reviews
What a shame..... - By: C. Muscillo, 13 Jul 2008 
The only carry on that really does not work...why?
Well for a start most of the cast had passed away, leaving Jim Dale with a bunch of newbies who were not brought upin old school comedy.
Like most other tv / film updates, the film completely fails to capture the era & essence of the carry on film.
A complete disaster, buy Carry on Dick instead.
hopeless - By: Dr. Richard J. Woollett, 30 Nov 2007 This film seems to have missed the point of the previous films. In fact there is no humourin this at all. It is very annoying which is its only claim to success.
Rose Tinted Spectacles - By: andyatastra, 20 Aug 2007 
In little over 20 years, the "Carry-On Team" made 29 films. The TV stations don't tend to show the early (Black & White ones) like Sergeant, Constable, Regardless or Teacher because they are dated (and largely unfunny apart from Stanley Unwin's appearancein Regardless). Fortunately they also avoid the truly dire later offerings such as England, Behind, Abroad & Emmanuelle.
So that leaves us with a core of the "Medical Series": Nurse, Doctor, Again Doctor & Matron, the "Historical Dramas": Jack, Cleo, Don't lose your head, Cowboy, Dick, Henry, Kyhber, & Camel, "Social Commentry": Loving, Convenience, Girls & Camping (can you remember ANY of the story apart from Babs losing her top?) & the remaining "odds & sods" such as Cruising, Cabby, Spying, Jungle & Screaming.
It seems that many people wear Rose Tinted Spectacles when remembering the Carry-Ons as out of the 29 films up to Columbus there are probably only 1 "Medical", 6 "Historical", 1 "Social" & 3 of the "Odds & Sods" that really stand up to scrutiny as being worth watching more than once.
As with all the historical Carry-Ons, Columbus plays footloose & fancy free with historical accuracy, telling the tale of Columbus attempts to find a new route to the Spice Islandsin the East Indies & avoid paying taxes to the Sultan as these spices cross his borders (hence Rik Mayall's otherwise pointless inclusion). As with all the historical Carry-Ons, things don't go according to plan as the makeshift crew of reprieved criminals, Christian Converts fleeing the Spanish Inquisition & some unenthusiastic civil servants eventual discover the Americas & attempt to return home with "The Wealth of the Indies".
Columbus has its faults - notably with the "new wave" comedians being largely unable to play the "old style" innuendo that forms much of the script (and much of the Carry-on's continuing appeal) &in its recycling of previously used gags & situations. However, Jim Dale & Richard Wilson have a scene that demonstrates the verbal dexterity of both, Alexi Sayle tries hard & Julian Cleary is an inspired choice as an effete Prison Governer helping to provide the crew. The encounter with the native Indians & the "get out clause" that rescues an unsuccessful mission is no less inventive than any of the schemes/squirms that Sid would have usedin any of his outings.
Allin All, Columbus isn't one of the best Carry-Ons, but it's certainly no worse than at least 18 of the originals.
Carry On? Wish they hadn't. - By: C. Robinson, 03 Jul 2007 The best thing about this film is when the end credits roll.I'm a huge carry on fan & this film really shouldn't have been given the "Carry On" title.
I think one of the main downfalls of the film was that it's cast were all well know actors & actresses.With the likes of Sid,Hattie,Joan,Kenny Wiiliams,Charlie Hawtrey & Bernie Bresslaw all sadly passed,the title of "Carry On" cast should've been laid to rest with them.
The only real reason to buy this is if,like me,you have all the other filmsin the collection.
Columbus - By: A. KERR, 11 Jun 2007 
I think the film is a very poor follow on to the Carry-On series. But if you watch it as a filmin it's own right, it is watchable. Take away the title of Carry-On & call it something else.
I love Carry-On, so I was looking forward to watching this. Didn't work...but they tried.
