A group of retired folk from a nearby home for the elderly have a habit of sneaking into a private swimming pool.
One day they find that something has been stored at the bottom of the pool. It soon becomes apparent that these “cocoons” are the source of some unusual and very welcome changes.
As they spend more time in the pool, the small group of elderly feel invigorated, even revitalised – is this the fountain of youth?
Art (Don Ameche), Ben (Wilford Brimley), Joe (Hume Cronyn) and their close circle of friends soon discover that the Cocoons are aliens and that their second youth has a price, at the expense of the aliens inside the Cocoons.
A race is then on as they try to help the aliens return with their fellow travellers Walter (Brian Dennehy) and Kitty (Tahnee Welch).
Such a cast as this is rare and this movie does not waste the opportunity presented, not that you’d expect anything less from a Ron Howard film.
Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jack Gilford, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon, Herta Ware all are played to their strengths and play so well against as well as with each other that you really do believe these individuals have been friends, partners, wives, husbands for their entire lives. Beautiful.
Steve Guttenburg, Tahnee Welch, Brian Dennehy as reduced in such marvellous company but do well in support.
Interesting fact: Wilford Brimley is only 4 years older than Brian Dennehy.
Things to look out for: OAPs sneaking into nextdoor’s pool, angst from Jack Gilford, reveal by Kitty, “Every ten or eleven thousand years I make a terrible mistake”, touching speech by Joe, that wonderful cast
Released: 1985
Certificate: PG
Cast: Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jack Gilford, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon, Herta Ware, Steve Guttenburg, Tahnee Welch, Brian Dennehy
Rating: touching, charming, highly recommended
Part of the Cocoon Collection:
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