COCOON 1985

COCOON 1985

BY

RON HOWARD

Inhabitants of  planet ,called Antarea, arrive on earth,rent a swimming pool and energise it with ‘life force.’They have come to take back their fellow-planeteers,who were left behind hidden in rocks on the ocean floor,when their outpost ,Atlantis had sunk twenty years back.

‘Life Force’ is supposed to give the cocooned Antareans enough energy to survive the trip back home.But three gung ho residents of a nearby retirement home,who frequent the pool on the sly also get rejuvenated by the pool waters,and consequently ,end up creating  a lot of ruckus in their ecosystems.As the news spreads  of its healing waters ,and a large number of the retirement home residents rush to take   a  dip in the pool,it gets drained of  its vitality.The Antareans could not then be shipped back to their planet,but the rescue party offers  some  retirees a chance to migrate to Antarea,where one wud not age ,or die.This is an offer which many of them avail of,amidst a lot of human drama.

This film can be labelled as beatific science fiction on the lines of Spielberg stuff ,or be dubbed as loads of baloney.But the fact remains that it is a feel good film,in which Ron Howards never wllows  happiness and optimism to take a hit.Don Amache won the Best Supporting Oscar for his role.The film was also noted for its visual effects.The script has a strong joie de vivre associated with the lives of its characters.To see a bunch of oldies having fun in pool makes for happy watching.