“Stranded,” a new movie from Hallmark Entertainment, explores how a family copes with nature and each other after they are stranded on a deserted island. The movie is based on the 1813 classic novel “Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss. Before the credits role, a court sentences David Robinson (Liam Cunningham) to serve 15 years in a penal colony in Australia. The movie never explains what charges are against David; only that David declares his allegiance to God and not England. No background is provided to explain David’s motivation or his relationship with his wife Laura (Brana Bajic); sons, Ernst (Neil Newbon), Fritz (Jesse Spencer) and Jacob (Andrew Lee Potts); and daughter, Sarah (Emma Pierson). Laura declares the family will not be separated. Laura and the children join David onboard the convict ship, where they are also treated as convicts. The movie hardly spends any time on the ship except to quickly introduce a few of the crewmembers who play larger roles later in the story. A storm quickly strikes the ship, forcing the crew to launch the lifeboats. Laura places her youngest child Jacob in the lifeboat and then discovers that the rest of the family is trying to save Sarah who has become trapped in the ship’s hold. Laura stays behind to help rescue Sarah, while Jacob accompanies the brutish Capt. Blunt (Roger Allam) in the lifeboat. By the time Sarah is freed, the Robinson family is stranded on the ship as it flounders in the wild waves of the Indian Ocean. Finally the ship crashes on the rocks of a deserted island. The family takes what supplies it can from the ship and begins to make a home on the island. They have no idea where they are, if a ship will sail by that can rescue them, or if Jacob is still alive. The script tries to dredge up some antagonism between the father and his growing sons. David is used to being obeyed and never questioned. “I am the head of this family and I am to be obeyed,” says David. That explanation does not sit well with Fritz, who has an adventurous spirit. He takes off to explore the island, disobeying his father’s orders. He is also the one willing to stand up to his dad’s foolish pride. “You’re out to protect your ideas,” Fritz tells his father. “Isn’t that what landed us here in the first place?” Ultimately there are few rebellious words and actions to support a contentious relationship. One day a native appears on the island. Fritz befriends Namatiti (Rided Lardpanna) and even sails off to another island with him. Fritz returns with some gold coins from a sunken treasure and some interesting stories. If Namatiti has a boat and access to other populated islands, why doesn’t the family try to escape the deserted island• Instead, they prefer to complain to each other about being stuck there. The story jumps ahead seven years and starts focusing on Jacob’s exploits. Blunt has raised Jacob and together they and a rowdy crew sail the sea, pirating other ships and island settlements. Of course, Blunt’s lust for gold puts him in contact with Namatiti and eventually the Robinson family. Jacob is forced to choose between the man who has raised him the last several years and the family who sent him away with strangers. Along the way a girl is thrown in the mix. Emily is the daughter of a British admiral who is kidnapped by Blunt. She escapes and swims ashore where the Robinson family has built an extensive home in the trees. She quickly becomes a love interest for Ernst and Fritz. “Stranded,” which airs over two evenings, takes its time reaching the predictable ending. Despite the promise of adventure, there are few surprises in this tale. With no nudity, foul language or sexual situations, “Stranded” is at least a movie that the family can watch together. “Stranded” airs at 9 p.m. Tonight & Sunday, Hallmark

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