Senior Citizens Gone Wild

"Cocoon"

The Fountain of Youth has been sought after by many for centuries.  Who knew it existed in a swimming pool located in south Florida next to a retirement community?  This is the premise of Cocoon from versatile director Ron Howard.  For once we are treated to a pleasant science fiction film about aliens not wanting to destroy the world.   

Art (Don Ameche) and Ben (Wilfred Brimley) are just two buds just looking for some excitement at their hoary age.  Shuffling around in a bathrobe and some slippers isn’t exactly their idea of fun.  Together they decide to take a series of risks and go for daily dips in the neighboring vacant rental house's swimming pool.

Their merriment is soon interrupted when four strangers led by a man named Walter (Brian Dennehy,) decide to rent out the house for 26 days.  Shortly thereafter Walter and his friends’ identities are revealed.  They are actually a race of extraterrestrials who need the pool to house these large cocoons that they unearth from the ocean floor every day. The cocoons contain their friends who were left on Earth centuries ago. 

That doesn't stop Art, Ben, and their friend Joe (Hume Cronyn) from getting their routine exercise.  It's quickly apparent that they all begin to feel effects of rejuvenation from these cocoons.  Art's got more spring in his dance step, Ben's seeing 20/20, Joe's cancer has gone into remission, and all three of them have an increased mojo.  The trio view this as a quick fix to eternal life and cheating death.

Although the screenplay is very straightforward it does have some interesting themes of mortality and immortality.  What does it mean to be human?  Given a chance at eternal life would you take it?  These are just some of the questions posed in the film; questions that don't generally come up  in your everyday sci-fi flick.  That's probably because this film is much more character driven than plot driven, which is rare in this genre.  Although at times the script does get off track particularly with the scenes that have Steve Guttenburg who plays the captain of a boat the aliens rent to transport the cocoons back to the rental house.  The old folks' storyline and the relationship they have with the aliens is just more engaging and enjoyable than the scenes with Guttenburg.

The performances are strong from the three older actors.  It's plain to see that Ameche, Brimley, and Cronyn are having a lot of fun in their roles.  How often do we get to see actors in their autumn years play lead characters in a film about everlasting life?  Today's films are geared towards much younger audiences, starring men and women who call themselves actors.  They use the term "acting" very loosely and only a handful of them will actually be remembered for their talents.  When watching Cocoon we can see still these veteran actors work their craft quite vividly after so many years.  

The score by James Hornor must also be given praise.  Cocoon's main theme is undeniably distinct with a certain out of this world harmony.  Hornor's score never tells us how we should feel but rather enhances the action and emotions that are happening on screen.  Howard has continued to utilize Hornor's talents in six of his other films.  What we hear on screen is simply moving and lovely as the score seamlessly weaves itself in and out of the picture.

Cocoon is a welcome change of pace to the genre it happens to fall into.  While it does break the mold in a number of areas the film does retain its otherworldliness.  The film has a good balance of mixing aliens with the elderly in a story that plucks at all the right heart strings.  Once you get past this cocoon's alien exterior, inside you'll find a matured  film that can genuinely be called a work of adult science fiction.