Splash (1984)

Wonderful character development!

not horrible nor great

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are legendary names in Hollywood today, and it's impressive how far they've come from a story about a woman emerging naked from the sea to flop into the arms of a 20-something produce distributor.Distilled to its essence, "Splash" is just that – a lonely bachelor's fantasy played out on screen. It's what writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (who previously collaborated with Howard and Grazer on "Night Shift"), with Bruce Jay Friedman ("Stir Crazy") do to craft this hetero-male daydream into an entertaining fish-out-of- water story (literally?) that gives it real legs (sorry).Although viewers (mostly men) will be drawn to this fantasy pretty quickly, Daryl Hannah also gets to play a goofy, atypical female lead role, which can't be underestimated in the film's success. Whether it's chomping through a lobster shell with her teeth, prancing through Bloomingdale's or just getting her fins wet in the bathtub, there's both a confidence/strength and a shyness/reserved nature to Madison – whose given name is the direct reason why you know a young woman born after 1984 named Madison. Talk about cultural impact.So much is right with Hannah's performance. An actress with more of a name or acclaim at the time might have made Madison into more of a caricature or been distractingly attractive (given how much the camera ogles her). Hannah is alluring, mysterious and quirky in a believable way. The film's funniest moments are of her gleeful misunderstandings of American culture.In his first big role, Hanks gives us a taste of what has made him lovable over the years. Allen is a strange and sad guy, especially in the beginning; Hanks has always done the part of the loser really well in terms of his comedic roles. He's at his best when he's frustrated, angry or desperate as Allen, but most of all he's enough of an everyman that he earns audience empathy and sympathy as a "good guy." That's all this film requires of him."Splash" primarily holds up due to a few clutch moments that merge fantasy and everyday comedy. Whether it's naked Madison emerging on Liberty Island and not thinking anything of it, the excellent bathtub scene or the deranged Walter Kornbluth's (Eugene Levy) attempts to expose Madison to the world, these create highly memorable and impressionable moments whether you're a kid seeing this movie on TV for the first time or a casual fan of light comedy looking to be entertained.With a little more story and character development (Why is there a coral reef in Cape Cod and why would a mermaid be there on her own?) and the avoidance of deus ex machina, "Splash" could have even gone beyond fantastical comedy and become something a little more meaningful. The potential is definitely apparent with these two lovers from different worlds and society's fascination with things like mermaids working against them. Nevertheless, it belongs among the '80s staples and deserves some credit for leading to all the successful Howard/Grazer team-ups and Hanks hits. ~Steven CThanks for reading! Visit Movie Muse Reviews for more

Splash is a decent movie with a reasonably well developed plot and a talented cast. The highlight of the movie is certainly the chemistry between Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, it is very sweet, at times quite heartwarming, it was certainly a complicated relationship to pull off and they did not seem to have any trouble with it. The weakest factor is certainly the fact that their relationship never feels in real danger, romantic comedies usually have their ups and downs, as this one does, but there is never a sense that they may never get back together, there is always a large sense of hope, which winds up bland for the audience. I also felt they did not work on the potential of the mermaid as well as they could have, it did not feel enough like a fantasy, it was far too grounded and hardly imaginative, the scene in the bathtub and the part where she says her name are the only moments that truly represent the promise of the mermaid premise. It is riddled with flaws, but great chemistry make Splash worth a look if you ever see it on television and are looking for a romantic comedy, just do not go out of your way to see it. A young boy who is saved from drowning by a mermaid ends up falling in love with her 20 years later. Best Performance: Tom Hanks / Worst Performance: Eugene Levy

20 years ago in Cape Cod, Allen Bauer jumps off a boat, meets a young mermaid and is rescued. Now in NYC, Allen (Tom Hanks) and his no-good brother Freddie (John Candy) are owners of their late father's fruit wholesale business. Allen's girlfriend dumps him and he runs off to Cape Cod. Eccentric paranoid scientist Dr. Walter Kornbluth (Eugene Levy) is looking for mermaids. Allen is injured after falling off another boat and a mysterious naked girl (Daryl Hannah) rescues him. She picks up his wallet and follows him to NYC. The cops find her at the Statue of Liberty with Allen's wallet and reunites them. She takes on the name Madison after the street sign.Everybody is so lovable in this movie. Even a pervert John Candy is loads of fun. It's a joyful movie. Daryl Hannah is a beautiful fish out of water. I love the lobster. The pairing of Hanks and Candy is great. They would reunite one more time in the less successful 'Volunteers'. This is a fairly simple rom-com with Eugene Levy providing the obstacle. Director Ron Howard shows that he has a soft conventional touch.

"I'm in love with a mermaid!" And with the delightful Darryl Hannah in the lead, who could fault anyone with me saying that? Splash is a fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ron Howard, written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, and starring Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Dody Goodman. The story begins in 1959, when a young boy is rescued from a watery grave by an adolescent mermaid. Twenty-five years later, the boy has grown up and he is Allen Bauer. Meanwhile, the mermaid, likewise grown up, has surfaced in search of Hanks, her long-lost love. On dry land, the mermaid is able to walk about on legs; any contact with salt water, and she reverts to her half-fish form. Adopting the name of Madison from a New York street sign, the girl manages to win the young man's heart. Alas, a secret government lab, populated by such smarmy types captures Madison for research purposes--and possible vivisection. Egged on by his brother,Allen Bauer rescues his beloved, joining her in the ocean.Together they swim along the ocean floor toward what appears to be an underwater kingdom.Splash is a light-hearted comedy that sparkles here and there thanks to its fairy tale elements.The gorgeous Daryl Hannah does wonders with her thankless job, flitting tiny moments of joy and confusion across her face.The charming performances from Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah makes this film a perfectly light, warmly funny film to watch. It maybe dated for present viewers but it is still a delight to watch.