Cocoon1985

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.

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.

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.