Splash (1984)

Submersed in the depths of movie history is a little film about the unconditional love some people are dreaming of. Splash is a film which started the career of many of its stars such as actors Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah; as well as director Ron Howard. Whether you love seeing Daryl Hannah as a mermaid or are a fan of sweet romantic comedies, this film might be just what you're looking for.

Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) works at a wholesale fruits and vegetables business which he co-owns with his rather obnoxious brother Freddie (John Candy). When he was ten years old, Allen jumped overboard from a ferry after seeing something below the surface which captivated him. Despite being unable to swim, Allen seemed to be happy under the water and happened to see a little girl who looked like a mermaid. Ever since the incident, they have shared a bond between each other while Allen has been failing in his relationships with other women. After a recent break-up, Allen returns to the spot where he last saw the mermaid and once again falls into the water after a little accident on a hired dinghy boat. He is reunited with the mermaid from the past, who has grown into a fully grown woman but he doesn't know that she's a mermaid because when she's on land, her fin turns into legs. Dumbfounded and mesmerized by her, he travels back to New York and she subsequently follows; after taking his wallet and finding the city where he resides. Once arriving in New York, she is found stark naked and gets taken to the police station. Not knowing a word of English, no one can comprehend her, and her only chance is to find Allen. The police contact him after finding his wallet in her possession and he sprints like a boy to a candy store to pick her up. Seeing this as the last chance for love, Allen wants to get to know the girl who he named Madison (Daryl Hannah), and hopefully make the love between them bloom into a beautiful garden. The question is, will they get to live normally after a mad scientist wants to prove that Madison is a real mermaid and the publicity she has received after coming ashore to New York?

The film is very sweet and tender with my favorite character being Madison because she is so innocent and childlike in her actions. The one thing I don't understand about her character is how she can be so close to Allen from the very beginning when she doesn't even know him. The first time they meet, there's already a passionate kiss being shared by them. I wouldn't call that very mature and suppose that it's just "destiny" that brought them together. I did enjoy her bubbly and eager attitude towards her surroundings and how she was fascinated by everything around her that people take for granted these days. It was very funny to watch her doing aerobics in front of the TV and then find out she's been in front of it for six hours. I probably wouldn't last even half of the time she watched it, taking into account that it was mostly commercials. John Candy and Eugene Levy were both hilarious in their roles as the supporting cast. The brother with the swinging habit played by John Candy delivered some memorable one-liners and could have been the one instead of Allen who got the girl in the end. That would have been a much more touching scenario if the commonly unattractive fellow fell in love and was mutually loved by the beautiful mermaid. Eugene Levy played the scientist very well and delivered in all the right moments not only when it was meant to be funny but also when it evoked keen emotion.

I loved the opening title sequence with the credits being presented in ripples of water and also the ending credits with the main characters swimming to an underwater city. It made the film unique in its own way and stayed with the aesthetic of the story and its characters. The photography was exceptional and showed the many facets of New York City with great fluency and authenticity. The special effects for Daryl's rather large tail was carried out splendidly giving the desired effect that wasn't too bright to be considered flamboyant, and so didn't overshadow the character of Madison. If the tail would have been too bright, you would have felt that they were trying too hard to persuade people to see the movie as well as making the movie seem more child-oriented. But because the tail blended well with Daryl's body, it didn't take anything away from the plot and the journey of the characters.

The movie has an opaque point to make that may be missed by most that pass it off as a simple romantic comedy. People have lost faith in love and hopefully this film will spark happiness in their hearts, realizing that everyone has a chance to find their other half if they look deep enough within. After Allan finds out Madison is a mermaid, his love for her doesn't fade away. He loves her no matter what form she is, and I think that transcends to the real world by how men judge women who are different from the ideal image would suggest. Even if a woman has an abnormality, it doesn't mean that her soul takes the same shape. There are many men who are shallow and aren't willing to live with someone who is different from the norm, yet this film proves that different can be beautiful. The scientist's storyline also inspired some belief in those who assert something they believe is true, but others consider delusional. He proved his validity yet understood that he needed to set the mermaid free instead of watching her suffer in a lab tank. Kindness and love towards one another is all we need to be peaceful and happy. Let this film give you a wake up call with its big splash and remind you of the simple things in life.

Overall, it's a story that held lots of potential yet needed a little something extra to make it a well-rounded piece of work. Adorable and lovely, the actors gave the story its unique charm and the film gave them a worldwide platform to hone their skills at becoming some of the most prominent actors in the industry. Touching and pure, the film takes the audience back to the basics of life and back to nature in the 80's hit that is Splash.