Very few films have been made with seniors as the main characters. It seems that Hollywood producers are convinced we prefer to see younger people on the screen -- and they're probably right. "Cocoon" is a rare elderly-focused take on the fountain of youth concept, an ancient motif that's enough proof in itself that humans desire young age, whether in general or at the movies. Although science fiction, "Cocoon" is simple and mild-mannered like its lovable old protagonists. It might be light on drama but it's big on heart.

Loaded with stars from yesteryear, among them Don Ameche, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy and Gwen Verdon, one could say "Cocoon" was an '80s alien movie made specifically for an older crowd. And that's fair -- they deserve it. It's as if director Ron Howard was hoping to give his cast some of their youth back in letting them take prominence in the film, based on a story by David Saperstein and screenplay by Tom Benedek. It's not riveting sci-fi material but it prompts an honest conversation about aging, one that in reality someone of any age could understand and appreciate.

The film takes place in a senior living center in St. Petersburg, Florida. As part of their recreation time, three of the senior men enjoy swimming in the abandoned pool just through the woods around the center. When a strange group of people come in and buy the old house and rent a boat at the dock, the stubborn old guys still come to swim in the pool, only it appears the people are storing rocks in the water. They swim anyway and find that with the rocks in the pool (actually alien cocoons) that they feel energetic, rejuvenated -- and younger.

Howard's film is easygoing. There is not a lot of suspense or gripping conflict. Instead, you watch and get a kick out of the way these seniors and their wives behave having been affected by the water. Their sex drive, for example, reappears to comic effect and there's general misbehavior. They all come off as bigger children and each have a different reaction to this "cheating" of age. Thus the film's core conflict of whether it's right to defy nature appears and guides the rest of the film. It's a replacement for any major form of antagonism.

"Cocoon" is touching because the story is very frank in portraying these seniors as having nothing to live for but each other and whatever remaining family they have. When you're that old, a chance at prolonged life is like being granted a whole new world of opportunity whereas you're just biding time when you're old and physically and mentally unable to do the things you used to.

There have been better stories, better special effects (although this one an Oscar in 1985) and better science-fiction films, so "Cocoon" is best appreciated as a unique film about old age, something movies rarely focus entirely upon.

~Steven C

Visit my site! http://moviemusereviews.com

1985's Cocoon, directed by Ron Howard, asks - would you give up the emotional, mental and physical pain of growing old if you could? Baby boomers today feel that death is optional and seek out whatever it takes to make them feel and look young - so if Cocoon came out in 2008, it would perhaps resonate even more.

The story takes place in a rest home inhabited by a group of friends: Arthur (Don Ameche),Benjamin (Wilford Brimley) and his wife Marilyn (Maureen Stapleton),Joseph (Hume Cronyn) and his wife Alma (Jessica Tandy) and a perky red-head Bess (Gwen Verdon). The guys have taken to going to an abandoned pool house and swimming - without permission, of course. Then the building is rented by a man (Brian Dennehy). This same man also rents a boat from Jack Bonner (Steve Guttenberg),who is down on his luck and can use the money. He watches Jack, his beautiful assistant Kitty (Tahnee Welch) and some other people skindiving and bringing up huge silver packages. These packages are then dumped into the pool. After the men swim there one day, they find themselves suddenly rejuvenated and start having sex, staying up, nightclubbing and having more energy. Meantime, on the boat, Jack has gotten a look at Kitty getting ready for bed...and notices that she removes her skin as well as her clothes and glows in the dark.

This movie has many poignant moments - Alma coming to grips with the fact that her husband has always cheated, and the saddest of all, when Bernard (Jack Gilford) who has been violently opposed to the whole idea of the pool as a fountain of youth, desperately brings his wife there.

Howard cast this with an eye toward man's normal immortality - children - with Raquel Welch's daughter and Tyrone Power's son, Tyrone Power Jr. as Pillsbury - while telling the story of people who have a chance at a different kind of immortality. Both Power and Welch bear strong resemblance to their famous parents. The old-timers in the cast are among the greatest actors of their generation and sadly, we've lost nearly all of them now. Only Wilford Brimley remains. The film revived Don Ameche's career, and the cast returned for a sequel, "Cocoon: The Return." A wonderful film to see the old stars in a very touching story and to ask yourself - if you had the chance, would you take it?

With a great idea, a director in Ron Howard who has done good films despite being disliked by many and a talented cast (Don Ameche, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Wilford Brimley),'Cocoon' sounded to me like it would be good. Another interest point was its Oscar wins for Best Visual effects and Best Supporting Actor for Ameche (his only Oscar during his comeback period in a long career full of very good films and performances).

'Cocoon' fortunately struck me as a good film, very intriguing that lifts the soul and charms with fun and emotional moments. It could have been even better and isn't perfect or one of the best films from that year, but there is an awful lot to like and even love here. Sadly it is rather overlooked today, a distinction that is not deserving, and deserving of much more credit than it gets.

It may be overlong, with it faltering and running out of steam towards the end where it gets predictable, and the alien characters (excepting Brian Dennehy's, who fares very well here) are not quite as interesting or as developed as the older cast.

Also found Tahnee Welch (while fetching) a bit bland in a plot-device role and Steve Guttenberg rather forgettable and somewhat annoying in his.

To me, the older cast are far more memorable and compelling. All are very sassy and distinguished, with Ameche being an absolute joy (am not going to go into the debate of whether he deserved the Oscar or not, despite seeing many people citing his as one of the worst in the category and saying it was a career Oscar it wasn't an issue for me because it was a great performance in its own way). Stapleton, Tandy and Brimley bring sass and zest to their roles and Jack Gilford is a scene stealer.

Visually, 'Cocoon' is very well made, the effects holding up well and thankfully not being overused or abused like is the case for some films. The photography boasts a lot of style and atmosphere, as well as an expansive and vibrant touch. James Horner provided a typically lush and not too sweeping or syrupy score that adds poignancy to the proceedings. The script has gently and laugh-out-loud funny moments, charm and heartfelt emotion and the story is uplifting and in particularly the first half imaginative with a suitably bittersweet message. Howard keeps things steady and in control and doesn't make the film wallow in sentimentality too much which was a wise move.

Overall, an easy to like and watch film. 7/10 Bethany Cox