Review of The Mosquito Coast

I want to like this story, but I can't. The Allie Fox character is just not compelling. He is written to be flippant, even nonchalant, in the face of violence, sudden death and mortal danger to his family. The character is purported to be intelligent, but he behaves as if he doesn't quite grasp the reality of his situation. His daughter, for example, demonstrates to his surprise and awe that she is a smart, courageous and capable bad-ass by rescuing him from police custody. But he continues to treat her like a child, not discussing the risks and tactics of their route through the desert. Instead, he feeds his family quips and sardonic grins as he leads them to what very well may be their deaths. It's a shame that Apple executives don't seem to be able to distinguish between good and bad writing.