Cocoon (1985)

 

Usually, you know what to expect with certain directors. Ron Howard is no exception. He often gives the world heartwarming stories that make you feel fuzzy inside and a little bit of melancholy to make it feel that bit more poignant. 'Cocoon' is no exception, and it is one of those 80s films that - if you saw this at a young age - will have stuck by you no matter what, even if in the end it isn't a very complex or classic film.

Does wonders for your nostalgia, though. 

The story takes place in Florida, where Americans go to die. That isn't even a joke: it's the state with per capita the most elderly people. The film does a good job of showing us that the autumn of their lives isn't as nice as most would want, shuffling along until the end finally comes. But here we meet our protagonists, a couple of gents that sneak out of the home and regularly go swimming in the pool of a nearby estate, as a sort of 'act of defiance' in their old age. 

But things take a new and unexpected twist when some people rent the place for a while and leave massive cocoons in the pool. Now, our gentlemen suddenly find themselves reinvigorated and youthful, and one of them even loses his dreaded cancer, which would have certainly spelled his doom. They find a new lease on life and even though they now want to enjoy it all to the fullest, a few cracks begin to appear in their friendship. 

Turns out the people responsible for the cocoons are - of course - aliens; Antareans to be more precise. They're here to pick up some friends they left behind when Atlantis sank into the ocean. These are benevolent people, but when the secret is out that the pool rejuvenates, chaos ensues and the Antareans have little choice but to leave their brethren behind once again. They do suggest to take along our elderly protagonists, though, as the Antareans live forever and have nearly forgotten what emotions and loss actually are and they hope the humans can teach them this again. 

This is a film that is so unintrusive and nice, some people are bound to find it way too sappy. But still, the cast is the best part, as the extra-terrestrial stuff is pretty much relegated to the sidelines for the most part. They got screen legends like Wilford Brimley, Don Ameche, Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy for starters. This is definitely about the elders and how they perceive life and not necessarily want to give it up, even if their joints don't do what they're supposed to do. Ameche steals the show as the suave artist, but it's the grumpy Brimley who's our anchor into it all, as he is the realist and the only one with a family left (daughter and grandson). 

You will also find Steve Guttenberg here as the captain of the boat the Antareans charter, but he doesn't get much to do and his comedic stylings sometimes feel a bit out of place. He's better as the wisecracking Maloney in 'Police Academy', but Guttenberg is a likable guy. The Antareans are led by the one and only Brian Dennehy, which used to feel weird as he is more known as a gruff man or a villain on the screen, but he is the most 'humane' of the Antareans and it works. His physique and demeanour give him that natural charisma and authority which makes sense considering his character is supposed to be a leader who's literally thousands of years old. The look on his face when he discovers that their work has been for naught is a masterclass in emoting. 

Good stuff.

So even though this is highly predictable and maybe a bit too 'feel-good', it still is one of those properties from a time when films didn't always need to be cynical or harsh. 

And you know what? Sometimes, that is exactly what you need.