Cocoon

**Cocoon** is a 1985 American science-fiction/fantasy/comedy-drama film directed by Ron Howard, which was released by 20th Century Fox on June 21, 1985.

## Plot

When a group of trespassing seniors swim in a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigor.

## Cast

* Don Ameche as Art Selwyn
* Wilford Brimley as Ben Luckett
* Hume Cronyn as Joe Finley
* Brian Dennehy as Walter
* Jack Gilford as Bernie Lefkowitz
* Steve Guttenberg as Jack Bonner
* Maureen Stapleton as Mary Luckett
* Jessica Tandy as Alma Finley
* Gwen Verdon as Bess McCarthy
* Herta Ware as Rose Lefkowitz
* Tahnee Welch as Kitty
* Barret Oliver as David
* Linda Harrison as Susan
* Tyrone Power Jr. as Pillsbury
* Clint Howard as John Dexter
* Charles Lampkin as Pops
* Jorge Gil as Lou Pine

## Production

Robert Zemeckis was originally hired as the director for "Cocoon" and spent a year working on it in development. During that time, he was directing the film, Romancing the Stone for 20th Century Fox.

Fox executives previewed "Romancing the Stone" and hated it. In addition to his two other films, I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Used Cars being commercial failures, 20th Century Fox fired Zemakis as the director of "Cocoon" and was replaced by Ron Howard.

Filming for "Cocoon" took place from August 20, 1984 to November 1, 1984 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Boca Ciega Bay house of Dr. Chester and Doris Babat was rented by the production and renovated for filming of the pool scenes with a makeshift temporary structure built over their outdoor pool.

The homeowners later built a permanent pool house based on the film's exact design where they still reside many years later.

At the time of production, Wilford Brimley was almost 50 years old when he was cast in the role of a senior citizen. In order to look the part of a senior citizen, Brimley bleached his hair and moustache to turn them gray, and had wrinkles & liver spots drawn on his face.

Steve Guttenberg worked on the film for less than his usual fee because he liked the script and really wanted to work with Ron Howard.

During filming, Brian Dennehy was arrested for driving under the influence on a night out with Steve Guttenberg. After a night in the local police station, he thanked the officer responsible.

Ron Howard originally wanted Joan Bennett for the role of Bess McCarthy, but she was talked out of the role by her husband, David Wilde, so it was given to Gwen Verdon instead.

According to Ron Howard, several members of the cast liked to get into hypothetical discussions about the chance their characters were offered in the film. Maureen Stapleton was dead against it while Don Ameche said that he'd be the first in line.

## Box Office

During its opening weekend, "Cocoon" grossed $7,936,427. Overall, it grossed $85,313,124 worldwide on an estimated budget of $17,500,000, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 1985.

## Critical Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, "Cocoon" has an approval rating of 79% based on 29 reviews with an average rating of 6.10\10. The site's consensus reads: *"Though it may be too sentimental for some, Ron Howard's supernatural tale of eternal youth is gentle and heartwarming, touching on poignant issues of age in the process."*

Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote: *"Mr. [Ron] Howard brings a real sweetness to his subject, as does the film's fine cast of veteran stars; he has also given Cocoon the bright, expansive look of a hot-weather hit. And even when the film begins to falter, as it does in its latter sections, Mr. Howard's touch remains reasonably steady."*

Variety magazine said: *"A fountain of youth fable [from a novel by David Saperstein] which imaginatively melds galaxy fantasy with the lives of aging mortals in a Florida retirement home, Cocoon weaves a mesmerizing tale."*

Writing for The New Yorker, Pauline Kael stated: *"If audiences enjoy the movie, it's largely because of the elderly actors and the affection that the young director, Ron Howard, shows for them."*

In their review of "Cocoon", TV Guide Magazine wrote: *"A gentle and effective heart-tugger, Cocoon tries to make its audience feel good, but you can't help but feel uneasy about the vision of old age that director Ron Howard depicts--one in which the young cannot accept the notion of getting old. The derivative special effects feel like leftovers from the infinitely superior Close Encounters of the Third Kind."*

Scott Tobias of The A.V. Club wrote: *"The scenes of revitalized St. Petersburg retirees aerobicizing and breakdancing do have a genuine sweetness, especially with the roles filled out by a cast of beloved Hollywood old-timers."*

## Sequel

A sequel, Cocoon: The Return was released in 1988 in which almost the original cast members reprised their roles.