I can’t count
the number of times I watched Splash as a kid. My aunt had a VHS tape
of it, and we watched it until the tape curled.
Back in the
‘80s, before green screens became common or motion capture technology was a
thing, actors and actresses had to wear suits to portray the characters and
effects they wanted to bring to life. Daryl Hannah did just that—and did it
magnificently—as she played Madison, the mermaid, in this ‘80s classic.
At its core, Splash isn’t too different from other romantic comedies: boy meets girl and falls in love story, so the plot is pretty predictable. But the story's curveball is, girl is a mermaid, making it feel more like The Little Mermaid (Disney’s 1989 animated film).
Splash is also a Disney movie, but it was released under their Touchstone studio, which was created for more mature content. Splash was their first film under this label.
The story begins when young Allen jumps into the sea and is saved by a little girl—who happens to be a mermaid. Years later, a grown-up Allen (Tom Hanks) is struggling to find love. After his colleague’s wedding, he goes for a boat ride and falls into the sea, only to be saved again by the same girl, now grown up (Daryl Hannah). Later, she comes to the city to find Allen, and they meet and fall in love. But she’s keeping a secret from him, and Allen is desperate to figure it out. Of course, there’s more: a scientist (Eugene Levy) is determined to expose her for the mermaid she truly is.
The acting in this movie is mouthwatering. Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, and John Candy delivered such a mind-blowing adaptation of the script that you won’t forget the movie anytime soon. The screenplay was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay. I must add though, the pacing feels uneven at times, with some parts dragging, and the character development doesn't go much deeper than surface-level.
Directed by Ron
Howard (How
The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and A Beautiful Mind (2001)),
who did a masterful job bringing the script to life, Splash is one of
those films that stood out in the ‘80s. I bet if you were born around then,
you’re itching to see it again.
Splash was
a major financial success for Disney. Made on an $8 million budget, it went
on to gross over $69 million at the box office.
There was a
TV-movie sequel in 1988 called Splash, Too. I can only recall a few scenes
from it, but the movie didn’t feature the original stars. Instead, Todd Waring
played Allen Bauer (replacing Tom Hanks), and Amy Yasbeck played Madison Bauer
(replacing Daryl Hannah). It was directed by Greg Antonacci.
Enough said about Splash. If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing it yet, go watch it now.
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