My English teacher in high school was a really strange man. He had a long white beard which he stated he would not shave off until there was world peace. His idea of a grading policy was to carry around a clip board and award “points” to students sometimes for saying incoherent phrases that he found funny. He could read a five page essay in under a minute and somehow grade it at the same time. He also had a movie poster of Cocoon on his wall.

Honestly, that’s the power Cocoon had. Somehow what would seem to be a simple movie with warmth and science fiction blended together had touched my English teacher so much that for generations and generations he never thought once, nor perhaps ever saw another movie that meant something more, than what he saw in Cocoon. And even years past, and a disastrous sequel, Cocoon continues to catch a viewers heart – young and old alike.

In terms of mere star power, Cocoon had the best of the best. Screen legends Jessica Tandy, Don Ameche, Hume Cronyn, and Brian Dennehy - 80’s star Steve Guttenberg – and even Mr. Quaker Oats himself Wilford Brimley. Both the story and the movie are simple in design. An alien race has returned to Earth to save some of its own kind left behind on the ocean floor in cocoons. Leader Walter/Brian Dennehy hires Jack Bonner/Steve Guttenberg to be their boat captain as they search for and rescue the cocoons, laying them in a swimming pool until they are ready to depart. However, the swimming pool is a favorite hang out of a group of senior citizens, Arthur Selwyn/Don Ameche, Benjamin Luckett/Wilford Brimley, Joseph Finley/Hume Ronyn and their wives/girlfriends Marilyn Luckett/Maureen Stapleton, Alma Finley/Jessica Tandy, and Bess McCarthy/Gwen Verdon. Bernard Lefkowitz/Jack Gilford and his wife Rose/Herta Ware close out the group, but mainly play outsiders to the inner core of the old friends.

The beginning movie sets up the obvious, that these people are old. They live in an “old folks” home, are insulted by the younger staff, sit around and watch TV, and only have their memories to keep them company. Director Ron Howard makes sure that we see these characters as having young hearts who want to be and act young again – if only their frail bodies would allow them. Soon enough they get their wish as they finally decide to break into the closed off swimming pool and swim even though there are large “rock” looking things – cocoons – in the water.

At first only the men break into the swimming pool – and once they return home they suddenly find themselves young all over. In a nice little touch, they all spend “time” with their wives leading them all to smile in basic utopia. Plus they find themselves walking faster than all the other old folks, more cheery, more alive, and are even able to break-dance like they were 20 years old.

Although the feeling of being young, takes up much of the movie; there is also a few side stories meant of course to warm us up to the characters even more. Jack, beings to become infatuated with Kitty/Tahnee Welch, who is quite a hottie indeed until he sees her without her skin on. Naturally, Jack at first is scared out of his own skin, but warms up to the fact that he is basically surrounded by aliens. Later on, when the older folks are caught trespassing – they too over time warm up to the aliens.

In the end, an age old question comes into play. If you could cheat nature – would you? In fear of giving away too much of the movie – I’ll end with describing the movie with that question.

Clearly what makes Cocoon such a enjoyable movie is the excellent performances by all involved, except perhaps Steve Guttenberg. His character is just too annoying – quite like most movies he has ever been in. Good for a first laugh, but slowly over time, becomes more increasingly annoying to watch. He of course, being the sex symbol he was in the 80’s – also finds time to take his shirt off quite frequently, and even make “love” with an alien through a semi-weird ritual that finds him having red energy flow through his body as he tightens up his chest and shows off his rib-cage.

Cocoon can also be credited with re-starting Jessica Tandy’s career. Although Tandy may not have been “out” of Hollywood – it was clear that she was contempt where she was. But after Cocoon, Tandy found herself on every producers A-list – appearing not just in the disastrous sequel to Cocoon, but also in Batteries Not Included, Fried Green Tomatoes, and eventually the movie that won her an Oscar – Driving Miss Daisy. No other actress in Hollywood’s screen history really ever had the genuine love and warmth that Jessica Tandy brought to the screen, especially so late in her life and in her career.

I remember first watching Cocoon when I was a young child – which is quite ironic, because the movie is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary – and makes me think that I’m old. Yeah I know, at 27, I’m still a baby – but it is quite strange to see “those” movies that remind you of being young – now celebrating their second decade in existence and are being considered “classics”.

Cocoon is currently in rotation on cable channel TBS. Of course being edited for television, many of the “bad” words are cut out and one has to deal with frequent commercial interruptions. Cocoon is also available on VHS and DVD – although the DVD has very limited special features. Note: According to Amazon.com – the studio is no longer producing Cocoon on DVD. It may still be available, but harder to find and is available only at stores that have the movie in stock – they cannot order more supplies.

Young or old – if you haven’t seen Cocoon, I highly recommend that you check it out. It truly is one of the “new classics” – full of warmth, humor, and science-fiction all added into one. The special effects may be a little old – but the story is not – and never will be.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS