Cocoon (1985)
Cocoon (1985)
1985’s Cocoon is a fine science-fiction movie, if not a little on the sentimental side. The main players are all elderly characters, so this movie appeals to the older crowd. As a younger person, I enjoyed the Spielbergian science fiction and charm you come to expect out of a Spielberg production. There is no frenetic pacing or any complicated plot mechanics. Ron Howard’s direction is laidback, smooth, and often goes with the flow.
The film was originally going to be helmed by Robert Zemeckis. Twentieth Century Fox, the studio behind the film, was also behind Zemeckis’s first big-budget adventure, Romancing with the Stone. The studio hated that movie and fired him (and that film turned out to be a big critical and commercial success) and hired Ron Howard to take his place. Howard previously directed the fast-paced comedy The Night Shift and the magical Splash. After what he did with the mermaid movie, the studio believed Howard was the right man for this film. I was surprised that at such a young age and relatively inexperienced, Howard would have the chops to make a laidback, charming film about senior citizens finding the fountain of youth. He did and did an excellent job! The script was written by David Saperstein and the script was solid.
Art Selwyn (Don Ameche), Ben Luckett (Wilford Brimley), and Joe Finley (Hume Cronyn) are three elderly residents of a nursing home. There is an abandoned building nearby with a pool and they spend their leisurely time trespassing. One day, the pool and the building are mysteriously purchased. The pool now has these strange rocks at the bottom (which are these alien cocoons). They still decide to keep swimming, but now these cocoons are making them feel young again. Their adventures are now just beginning.
For a science-fiction film from a major studio, it was highly unusual for a movie to have such an elderly cast minus a few exceptions. It worked out very well as the film was one of the highest grossing films of 1985. The performances are all sweet and rather sentimental. The actors did an excellent job showing and talking about aging, but they also used comedic effect to show how they are “young” again. Don Ameche is the film’s standout and actually won an Oscar for his performance. Wilford Brimley was only 50 when the film was released, so he spent time in the makeup chair in order to look old. Jessica Tandy and Maureen Stapleton delivered fine performances. As for the younger actors, keep an eye out for Steve Guttenberg and Brian Dennehy.
Cocoon is not the best science-fiction movies of the 80’s, but it is a perfectly watchable movie that is sometimes a bit sentimental. It’s one of those films you may forget long after you watched it, but you have fun watching it as it unfolds. James Horner created a recognizable theme that you will not forget. The special effects are hit-and-miss. They do not hold up as well today. Ron Howard’s directing prowess matured with Cocoon. I was pleasantly surprised.
My Grade: B
1985’s Cocoon is a fine science-fiction movie, if not a little on the sentimental side. The main players are all elderly characters, so this movie appeals to the older crowd. As a younger person, I enjoyed the Spielbergian science fiction and charm you come to expect out of a Spielberg production. There is no frenetic pacing or any complicated plot mechanics. Ron Howard’s direction is laidback, smooth, and often goes with the flow.
The film was originally going to be helmed by Robert Zemeckis. Twentieth Century Fox, the studio behind the film, was also behind Zemeckis’s first big-budget adventure, Romancing with the Stone. The studio hated that movie and fired him (and that film turned out to be a big critical and commercial success) and hired Ron Howard to take his place. Howard previously directed the fast-paced comedy The Night Shift and the magical Splash. After what he did with the mermaid movie, the studio believed Howard was the right man for this film. I was surprised that at such a young age and relatively inexperienced, Howard would have the chops to make a laidback, charming film about senior citizens finding the fountain of youth. He did and did an excellent job! The script was written by David Saperstein and the script was solid.
Art Selwyn (Don Ameche), Ben Luckett (Wilford Brimley), and Joe Finley (Hume Cronyn) are three elderly residents of a nursing home. There is an abandoned building nearby with a pool and they spend their leisurely time trespassing. One day, the pool and the building are mysteriously purchased. The pool now has these strange rocks at the bottom (which are these alien cocoons). They still decide to keep swimming, but now these cocoons are making them feel young again. Their adventures are now just beginning.
For a science-fiction film from a major studio, it was highly unusual for a movie to have such an elderly cast minus a few exceptions. It worked out very well as the film was one of the highest grossing films of 1985. The performances are all sweet and rather sentimental. The actors did an excellent job showing and talking about aging, but they also used comedic effect to show how they are “young” again. Don Ameche is the film’s standout and actually won an Oscar for his performance. Wilford Brimley was only 50 when the film was released, so he spent time in the makeup chair in order to look old. Jessica Tandy and Maureen Stapleton delivered fine performances. As for the younger actors, keep an eye out for Steve Guttenberg and Brian Dennehy.
Cocoon is not the best science-fiction movies of the 80’s, but it is a perfectly watchable movie that is sometimes a bit sentimental. It’s one of those films you may forget long after you watched it, but you have fun watching it as it unfolds. James Horner created a recognizable theme that you will not forget. The special effects are hit-and-miss. They do not hold up as well today. Ron Howard’s directing prowess matured with Cocoon. I was pleasantly surprised.
My Grade: B
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