Cocoon

Cocoon has its flaws, to be sure, but it's an ambitious, visually stirring piece of sci-fi drama. The performances from the cast (both young and old) are terrific, and visual effects are quite gorgeous.

A fountain of youth fable [from a novel by David Saperstein] which imaginatively melds galaxy fantasy with the lives of aging mortals in a Florida retirement home, Cocoon weaves a mesmerizing tale.

The people behind Cocoon have taken many of the weariest of the cinematic cliches of the eighties and invested them with hearts and minds; from an unsightly chrysalis, a thing of beauty has been born. [21 June 1985]

Mr. Howard brings a real sweetness to his subject, as does the film's fine cast of veteran stars; he has also given Cocoon the bright, expansive look of a hot-weather hit. And even when the film begins to falter, as it does in its latter sections, Mr. Howard's touch remains reasonably steady.

Director Ron Howard brings a quality of gentleness and whimsy to the performances, but basically this is a highly calculated project brought in by those two old pros, producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown (Jaws, The Verdict).

Director Ron Howard brings a quality of gentleness and whimsy to the performances, but basically this is a highly calculated project brought in by those two old pros, producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown (Jaws, The Verdict).

Essentially, this is sci-fi with a heart, albeit one made entirely of cheese. Both director and writer sometimes seem unsure whether to pitch the tale as knockabout comedy or sentimental fable. It's to the lasting detriment of the movie that Howard opts for the latter. Resistible.

Cocoon’s fountain of youth script works as both a tale about the abuse of rejuvenation but also letting go the fear of approaching death in old age. The film by the end may push aside the acceptance of death in the face of the movie’s central premise yet the message is more about doing the most with your life. No doubt Ben, his wife and friends at that retirement home have a great new adventure ahead of them. It’s inspiring. With a touching script, great acting performances as well as an uplifting music score and amazing visual effects Ron Howard brings it all together for one important message. That message being we are only as young as we feel. Ironically a film about ageing has remained ageless and it’ll make you feel young again watching it. Cocoon is an imaginative movie that is highly recommended.

I thought this was a pretty quirky, amusing watch. Its very much a family friendly fantasy film. The special effects are pretty old fashioned but thats to be expected given its over 30 years old - thats partly why its amusing, the reaction of the actors to the special effects. It does have a moral message behind it about greed, I suppose. Its fairly cheesy at times, even somewhat reminiscent of ET in a way but its a pretty good watch regardless and I'd say its worth seeing, yes.

Undeterred by the sudden appearance of fuzzy boulders in the water, a small group of Florida retirees continue their practice of sneaking into a neighbor’s private pool for clandestine afternoon swims. When the big stones act as an instant salve for the rigors of old age, their visits increase in frequency and they finally take serious notice of the odd new tenants. Who, as it happens, wear removable skin suits and glow in the dark. Despite the spacey premise, Cocoon is a relaxed, slow-moving film that handles its sci-fi elements with a light touch. There’s no anxiety to watching this; the sailing is smooth and the waters are warm, which can be a nice change of pace in today’s sometimes overwrought cinematic landscape. After the initial shock wears off, the old-timers don’t make a big deal about the extraterrestrials next door. They just accept them as eccentrics and find ways to relate; a sweet little slice of morality that lands without pretension. As this is a Ron Howard production, there’s a whole lot of sentiment to be had. Misty eyes and hugs abound, almost to the point of over-indulgence, but at least this suits the story and gives the cast (largely comprised of faded former stars) a fond industry farewell. Wilford Brimley gives the most memorable performance, but he was still a relatively young man at the time (he turned 50 during filming, which seems almost impossible) while vets like Don Ameche and Jessica Tandy hand in strong efforts at the very end of their careers. Not a bad night’s entertainment, but also nothing revelatory or extra-special.