Death is inevitable. That’s a universal truth we all learn at a very early age and as we get older, the reality of that truism becomes more and more evident with each passing day. But what if you didn’t have to die? What if you could live forever? That wish fulfillment was precisely what a then up-and-coming filmmaker Ron Howard explored back in 1985 with his wondrous fable, Cocoon. It’s a remarkable film for many reasons, but what has always made it so memorable for me was the way Howard managed to create such a vivid, dignifying and endearing portrait of octogenarian life that demonstrated how the elderly can still enjoy a fulfilling existence even if the rest of the world no longer recognizes their vitality.
This month, Howard’s wondrously heartfelt fable turns 30 and it feels like the perfect time celebrate this remarkably unique film that defied the odds for many reasons,...
This month, Howard’s wondrously heartfelt fable turns 30 and it feels like the perfect time celebrate this remarkably unique film that defied the odds for many reasons,...
- 6/21/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Ron Howard was a beloved child actor who showed some directing chops with Splash, a fantasy-themed comedy but he truly showed that he was a director to be taken seriously with his follow-up, 1985’s Cocoon . The movie was light-hearted, but a drama, which immediately showed his range. Additionally, Howard worked with a collection of veteran actors and he coaxed terrific performances from them all, resulting in Don Ameche’s Supporting Actor Oscar.
The movie is referenced now and then but has largely slipped from the collective consciousness, which is a shame, because it’s a nice story, well told, and worth seeing again. 20th Century Home Entertainment has released a 25th anniversary edition on Blu-ray and interestingly, rather then now-common combo pack, this a single Blu-ray disc retailing for the reasonable $24.95.
Watching the movie is a delight because we see long-gone veterans like Ameche, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Jack Gilford,...
The movie is referenced now and then but has largely slipped from the collective consciousness, which is a shame, because it’s a nice story, well told, and worth seeing again. 20th Century Home Entertainment has released a 25th anniversary edition on Blu-ray and interestingly, rather then now-common combo pack, this a single Blu-ray disc retailing for the reasonable $24.95.
Watching the movie is a delight because we see long-gone veterans like Ameche, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Jack Gilford,...
- 4/14/2010
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Film review: 'Zeus and Roxanne'
A cute mutt and a chatty dolphin compete with thoroughly tame adults and a three precocious kids in the trite family comedy-romance-adventure "Zeus and Roxanne". The wide MGM release should bark its way to only marginal business before swimming out to sea as a video rental.
The spotlight falls on affable, mischievous Zeus (a Portuguese Podengo) to carry the film, and some young children will respond to the physical humor. From underwater scenes to a dog leaping off a balcony into a pool, there are a few wondrous visual moments, but the situation-comedy elements of Tom Benedek's screenplay are blandly executed.
The otherwise reliable director George Miller ("The Man From Snowy River", "Andre") and cinematographer David Connell strive for a "Babe"-like intimacy with the animals, but it gets way out of hand with the super-smart Zeus, a pooch who saves the day more times than Rin Tin Tin.
Steve Guttenberg and Kathleen Quinlan are suitably parental as the tanned leads. She's a single-mom researcher in need of a grant. He's a single-dad musician holed up in the Bahamas with his son (Miko Hughes), whose dog Zeus gets the hots, so we're led to believe, for Flipper-lookalike Roxanne.
On the watch for a good man to marry their mother, the daughters of Quinlan's character (Dawn McMillan and Majandra Delfino) work kid magic on Guttenberg's hates-to-shave good guy, and the hoped-for romance develops.
A dog (one of three Zeuses) does ride on the back of a dolphin (one of three Roxannes) and Quinlan's adventuresome character does almost kick the bucket in a tiny submersible. Early on, Zeus himself almost doggy-paddles his way to a shark lunch special, but overall the film is sugary and innocuous.
ZEUS AND ROXANNE
MGM Distribution Co.
Rysher Entertainment presents
A Frank Price production
A George Miller film
Director George Miller
Writer Tom Benedek
Producers Frank Price, Gene Rosow,
Ludi Boeken
Executive producers Laura Friedman, Hilton Green
Director of photography David Connell
Production designer Bernt Capra
Editor Harry Hitner
Music Bruce Rowland
Casting Karen Rea
Color/stereo
Cast:
Terry Steve Guttenberg
Mary Beth Kathleen Quinlan
Claude Arnold Vosloo
Becky Miko Hughes
Judith Majandra Delfino
Nora Jessica Howell
Running time -- 98 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
The spotlight falls on affable, mischievous Zeus (a Portuguese Podengo) to carry the film, and some young children will respond to the physical humor. From underwater scenes to a dog leaping off a balcony into a pool, there are a few wondrous visual moments, but the situation-comedy elements of Tom Benedek's screenplay are blandly executed.
The otherwise reliable director George Miller ("The Man From Snowy River", "Andre") and cinematographer David Connell strive for a "Babe"-like intimacy with the animals, but it gets way out of hand with the super-smart Zeus, a pooch who saves the day more times than Rin Tin Tin.
Steve Guttenberg and Kathleen Quinlan are suitably parental as the tanned leads. She's a single-mom researcher in need of a grant. He's a single-dad musician holed up in the Bahamas with his son (Miko Hughes), whose dog Zeus gets the hots, so we're led to believe, for Flipper-lookalike Roxanne.
On the watch for a good man to marry their mother, the daughters of Quinlan's character (Dawn McMillan and Majandra Delfino) work kid magic on Guttenberg's hates-to-shave good guy, and the hoped-for romance develops.
A dog (one of three Zeuses) does ride on the back of a dolphin (one of three Roxannes) and Quinlan's adventuresome character does almost kick the bucket in a tiny submersible. Early on, Zeus himself almost doggy-paddles his way to a shark lunch special, but overall the film is sugary and innocuous.
ZEUS AND ROXANNE
MGM Distribution Co.
Rysher Entertainment presents
A Frank Price production
A George Miller film
Director George Miller
Writer Tom Benedek
Producers Frank Price, Gene Rosow,
Ludi Boeken
Executive producers Laura Friedman, Hilton Green
Director of photography David Connell
Production designer Bernt Capra
Editor Harry Hitner
Music Bruce Rowland
Casting Karen Rea
Color/stereo
Cast:
Terry Steve Guttenberg
Mary Beth Kathleen Quinlan
Claude Arnold Vosloo
Becky Miko Hughes
Judith Majandra Delfino
Nora Jessica Howell
Running time -- 98 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 1/27/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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