COCOON (1985 - PG-13)

Four friendly alien Antereans, traveling incognito as humans, come to Florida, hire a struggling charter boatman to retrieve pods from the ocean floor, containing fellow aliens left behind thousands of years ago.  The pods are put at the bottom of the backyard pool of the house that the aliens had rented.  When seniors from a nearby nursing home break in and use the pool as was their custom, it is like they bathed in the fountain of youth, feeling rejuvenated after they left. The consequences of this causes some problems as well as blessings for them and the aliens.

This film could be compared to "Close Encounters." Among the veteran actors, Jessica Tandy, Wilford Brimley, and Don Ameche are particularly good. Steve Guttenberg and Tahnee Welch bring youth and charm to a sub-plot involving human/alien romance. The ILM Special Effects are dazzling.

The cast includes: Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Steve Guttenberg, Jack Gilford, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Tahnee Welch, and Brian Dennehy.

Directed by Ron Howard.

The Cocoon Review