"Splash" marked a HUGE shift in the style films made by Disney. Now, with their Touchstone unit, they decided to make more adult films....after decades of mostly rather bland live-action films. So, although a Disney product, you hear cursing, references to "Penthouse" magazine and a bit of skin. As for the skin, I don't know how a live action film could be any more chaste regarding the skin you see, as mermaids aren't known for wearing clothing!

When Allen is a boy, he sees a mermaid in the water and impulsively dives in...almost drowning in the process. Well, this experience must have been like imprinting, as years later, this same mermaid leaves the sea to look for Allen (Tom Hanks). Madison (Daryl Hannah) is somehow transfixed on him and she swims all the way from Nantucket to New York City to find him. What follows is a most unconventional love story...complete with comic relief from John Candy and Eugene Levy.

Despite the skin and a bit of adult content, this is still a decent family film. Clever and fun...a first for Disney but also a most enjoyable movie.

True, "Splash" is pretty silly, but it's impossible not to like. The plot of course has unfulfilled clerk Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) meeting up with a mermaid (Daryl Hannah) who turns his life upside down. Much of the movie's humor derives from Allen's brother Freddie's (John Candy) goof-ball antics - namely when he drops coins and later speaks Swedish - and nerdy scientist Walter Kornbluth's (Eugene Levy) chronic bad luck. Another great scene is when the mermaid identifies her sea name before choosing Madison.

All in all, this affirms Ron Howard as a director who always has some ideas. This movie really does make a splash!

20 years ago in Cape Cod, Allen Bauer jumps off a boat, meets a young mermaid and is rescued. Now in NYC, Allen (Tom Hanks) and his no-good brother Freddie (John Candy) are owners of their late father's fruit wholesale business. Allen's girlfriend dumps him and he runs off to Cape Cod. Eccentric paranoid scientist Dr. Walter Kornbluth (Eugene Levy) is looking for mermaids. Allen is injured after falling off another boat and a mysterious naked girl (Daryl Hannah) rescues him. She picks up his wallet and follows him to NYC. The cops find her at the Statue of Liberty with Allen's wallet and reunites them. She takes on the name Madison after the street sign.

Everybody is so lovable in this movie. Even a pervert John Candy is loads of fun. It's a joyful movie. Daryl Hannah is a beautiful fish out of water. I love the lobster. The pairing of Hanks and Candy is great. They would reunite one more time in the less successful 'Volunteers'. This is a fairly simple rom-com with Eugene Levy providing the obstacle. Director Ron Howard shows that he has a soft conventional touch.