RON HOWARD
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBBB.
USA, 1985. Twentieth Century Fox, Zanuck/Brown Productions, St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission. Story by David Saperstein, Screenplay by Tom Benedek. Cinematography by Donald Peterman. Produced by David Brown, Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck. Music by James Horner. Production Design by Jack T. Collis. Costume Design by Aggie Guerard Rodgers. Film Editing by Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill. Academy Awards 1985. Golden Globe Awards 1985.
Lovely science-fiction story that also works as a charming family film, providing great roles for some of Hollywood’s veteran actors, including Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon and Don Ameche. A group of seniors have no idea why the dips they take in the pool next to their old-age home give them such renewed energy and vigour. Little do they know that aliens own the pool and are keeping their cocoons in there until they can transport them back to their home planet, with the energy coming off the cocoons putting the pep back into the swimmers’ systems. Eventually, the seniors decide to be of help to the visitors, and in return are rewarded quite handsomely for it. Great character relationships punch up a cute story, with great performances by the aforementioned actors as well as Wilford Brimley, Maureen Stapleton and Steve Guttenberg.
