Splash (1984)
Splash (1984)
Ron Howard’s Splash is such a charming, likable film. Who can resist the urge to smile when watching this adorable movie. The film is a complete turnaround from Howard’s directorial debut, 1982’s The Night Shift. That particular movie was a hardcore, raunchy R-rated film. Two years later, we get a very sweet film about a Manhattan bachelor falling in love…..with someone out of this world. This movie shows you how versatile Ron Howard is as a director. He made a career of making films in different styles/genres, and this was the start of it.
The film has been known for two major things. Firstly, this film is the first one distributed under Touchstone, Walt Disney’s new studio. Disney made a name for themselves over the years by producing films for children. They now wanted to make for adult-friendly fare without tarnishing the legacy of the studio, so that is where they created Touchstone. Splash is the one to bring the studio into the light.
Each film always has some little-known trivia associated with it, and this film is no exception. The name of the lead female character is Madison. Beautiful name, right? In the movie, she got her name from Madison Avenue, a Manhattan street. In the 1980’s, Madison would be an unusual name to call a girl. But after research had been done, it has been correlated that the use of Madison as an acceptable girl’s name has to do with this movie. Now go impress your friends/folks with this lovely piece of movie trivia!
Let’s go right into the plot! Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) manages a produce company and also works with his older, well-meaning brother Freddie (John Candy). Twenty years prior, Allen almost drowned and was rescued by someone….or something unknown. In present day timing, he almost drowns again and once again someone…or something comes to the rescue. Here is where we meet Madison (Daryl Hannah). Madison actually lives in the sea…as a mermaid…and she followed Allen to NYC. She keeps her secret to herself, but Allen falls in love with her. She needs to be careful because scientist Walter Kornbluth (Eugene Levy) thinks something strange is happening.
Baby-faced Tom Hanks! America’s most beloved man! It’s hard to remember that before he was a dramatic superstar, he exceled in comedies. 1980’s, man! Splash is one of his earliest roles, and I thought he did a great job here. The man who cannot attract a woman….unless she is a fish. I find it ironic that the famed critic Roger Ebert hated this casting choice. Hanks was still relatively unknown at the time, but his charisma certainly charmed audiences and myself. John Candy, although may not have much screentime, is as lovable as always. If you like slapstick, you will like Eugene Levy’s performance. He is the bad guy, but I did enjoy the physical humor from his character. Daryl Hannah is sweet, naïve, and this actually may be her best role. She certainly has the looks for a beautiful mermaid.
Splash is a very enchanting film. The beginning of the film, during the underwater scenes playing to Lee Holdridge’s score really puts you into a trance. I thought the production team did a great job in making the mermaid’s tale seem not fake at all. In addition to the light fun and big heart, the film is funny. Whether it is Levy’s physical humor or Hannah’s mermaid learning English in one entire day, there are many laughs to be had.
Splash is one of those films that you do not see anymore. Most comedies are raunchy and R-rated. I like those, but I also like these kind of films. Films with big hearts that the entire family can enjoy. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s just a light-hearted, whimsy adventure about falling in love. If you like the teaming of Rom Howard and producer Brian Grazer, this is one of their early ones and you can see where they got their magic from.
My Grade: B+
Ron Howard’s Splash is such a charming, likable film. Who can resist the urge to smile when watching this adorable movie. The film is a complete turnaround from Howard’s directorial debut, 1982’s The Night Shift. That particular movie was a hardcore, raunchy R-rated film. Two years later, we get a very sweet film about a Manhattan bachelor falling in love…..with someone out of this world. This movie shows you how versatile Ron Howard is as a director. He made a career of making films in different styles/genres, and this was the start of it.
The film has been known for two major things. Firstly, this film is the first one distributed under Touchstone, Walt Disney’s new studio. Disney made a name for themselves over the years by producing films for children. They now wanted to make for adult-friendly fare without tarnishing the legacy of the studio, so that is where they created Touchstone. Splash is the one to bring the studio into the light.
Each film always has some little-known trivia associated with it, and this film is no exception. The name of the lead female character is Madison. Beautiful name, right? In the movie, she got her name from Madison Avenue, a Manhattan street. In the 1980’s, Madison would be an unusual name to call a girl. But after research had been done, it has been correlated that the use of Madison as an acceptable girl’s name has to do with this movie. Now go impress your friends/folks with this lovely piece of movie trivia!
Let’s go right into the plot! Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) manages a produce company and also works with his older, well-meaning brother Freddie (John Candy). Twenty years prior, Allen almost drowned and was rescued by someone….or something unknown. In present day timing, he almost drowns again and once again someone…or something comes to the rescue. Here is where we meet Madison (Daryl Hannah). Madison actually lives in the sea…as a mermaid…and she followed Allen to NYC. She keeps her secret to herself, but Allen falls in love with her. She needs to be careful because scientist Walter Kornbluth (Eugene Levy) thinks something strange is happening.
Baby-faced Tom Hanks! America’s most beloved man! It’s hard to remember that before he was a dramatic superstar, he exceled in comedies. 1980’s, man! Splash is one of his earliest roles, and I thought he did a great job here. The man who cannot attract a woman….unless she is a fish. I find it ironic that the famed critic Roger Ebert hated this casting choice. Hanks was still relatively unknown at the time, but his charisma certainly charmed audiences and myself. John Candy, although may not have much screentime, is as lovable as always. If you like slapstick, you will like Eugene Levy’s performance. He is the bad guy, but I did enjoy the physical humor from his character. Daryl Hannah is sweet, naïve, and this actually may be her best role. She certainly has the looks for a beautiful mermaid.
Splash is a very enchanting film. The beginning of the film, during the underwater scenes playing to Lee Holdridge’s score really puts you into a trance. I thought the production team did a great job in making the mermaid’s tale seem not fake at all. In addition to the light fun and big heart, the film is funny. Whether it is Levy’s physical humor or Hannah’s mermaid learning English in one entire day, there are many laughs to be had.
Splash is one of those films that you do not see anymore. Most comedies are raunchy and R-rated. I like those, but I also like these kind of films. Films with big hearts that the entire family can enjoy. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s just a light-hearted, whimsy adventure about falling in love. If you like the teaming of Rom Howard and producer Brian Grazer, this is one of their early ones and you can see where they got their magic from.
My Grade: B+
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