MovieChat Forums > Splash (1984) Discussion > How can anyone NOT like this film?!?!

How can anyone NOT like this film?!?!

posted 14 years ago by miaowface
27 replies | jump to latest

I absolutely love this film, and I finally got around to ordering it from Amazon, and I was so excited about it that I told one of my friends and the first thing she said was that she hated it and she didn't like Daryl Hannah either. I was absolutely bemused as I don't understand how anyone could not like this film! It's so delightful and charming, and funny too. And as for not liking Daryl Hannah, how come someone watch this and not fall in love with her! I remember thinking she was the most beautiful thing in the world, and I wanted to be her so much! My DVD arrived today and I watched it straight away and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time I saw it. My conclusion is that my friend is broken.

All flowers in time bend towards the sun

[–] BlimeyCharlie 14 years ago

I guess I know how you feel - I've loved this film since childhood, too. Maybe your friend is put off by the fact that it's a story about a mermaid. I'm a guy, so maybe I can't quite comment on how a woman would feel, but I've been told that at least some women find the idea of mermaids to be a bit male chauvinist, stemming from the fact that they are quite obviously meant to be sex symbols, always portrayed (as in this movie) as beautiful and nude. And sure, the character of Madison isn't portrayed as "sexy" in a bad way at all, only as very beautiful and sweet - but, hey, with some people, there's just no accounting for taste, is there...?

[–] ragusa11 14 years ago

Good goofy fun. It is too bad this is rated so low. It seems Hollywood has decided to remake everything or go with some out of the box script.

[–] BlimeyCharlie 14 years ago

Yeah, I'm kind of conflicted on the idea of whether they should ever remake this. It *could* be really good, but the original also just stands on its own in a way that another version might never do it justice. And you're right, this film does deserve a higher rating here on IMDb.

[–] Mythea 14 years ago

I agree OP - I love this film so much. Maybe it's because it was something that captured our imaginations when we were younger and has made us perceive the film as much better than it is? Not sure why it has such a low rating though, because regardless of any rose-tinted specs, THIS IS a quality film.

[–] pemory09 14 years ago

Completely agree with everyone on this thread...I just love this film. I can't exactly put my finger on why I like it so much, but I've always enjoyed fables & fairy tales and this film does a fantastic job of creating a fable for adults without being silly or condescending. Plus, the actors, as well as the writing, are all fabulous. I'm always a little bummed-out when the end credits role....

[–] Hey_Sweden 13 years ago

I don't know, I would just chalk it up to personal preference. Some people just don't go for this sort of thing. Doesn't matter to me. I think it's a sweet and enchanting fable, and find it refreshing to see a movie without a cynical quality to it.

[–] billymac72 13 years ago

I agree. I actually saw it when it originally came out (I was 12 years old). The fact that I saw it at least twice in the theaters also tells me that I've always been a bit of a romantic, even as a little kid. AND, for a guy who's always loved blondes (not fish so much, though), it was a great, innocent fantasy. I have dark, curly hair too (although it's getting a little grey these days), so it was easy to imagine myself in the Hanks role.

Besides all this, it's pretty funny too. I was a huge fan of SCTV (which was still on tv at the time), and loved Eugene Levy and John Candy. That's how I think I must've justified going to see it with my friends!

[–] aka-tus 13 years ago

i loved this film too! very funny, with great performances and a sharp witty script. and how could anyone not fall in love with darryl hannah in this movie??? i know i sure did! so sweet and beautiful! i watched this movie several times when i was a kid; it just made me think that there's someone out there for anyone and that anyone can fall in love. (a little dorky, i know, but that was the effect that darryl hannah had on me back then!)

[–] billymac72 13 years ago

I think that's it. For as much as men get categorized as pigs or whatever, most of us don't want some oversexed, in-you-face, girl power firecracker. I think most of us just want someone who is sexy and will treat us nicely. Right? So Hannah was the perfect adolescent fantasy in so many ways....at least a lot more healthy of a fantasy figure than what I see marketed to boys these days!

[–] LocoHero 13 years ago

Your friend is ill. Possibly beyond help.

[–] longcooljolie 13 years ago

It was on Direct early this morning so I re-watched it and yeah...how can anyone not like it?

This could be considered Tom Hanks' breakout movie. When it was in the theater I took my little sister to see it and thought "Why does that guy look so familiar? Oh yeah, it's the bosom buddies guy." It's hard to believe that 15 years later he portrayed a hard bitten and haunted sergeant in "Saving Private Ryan."

According to the trivia section, there was a long list of actresses who were considered for and/or offered the role before it went to Darryl Hannah. Julia Louis-Dreyfus? Please. Debra Winger? No. Brooke Shields? Possibly. But Darryl Hannah was perfect for the role, with the help of Ron Howard's direction. She had the right combination of beauty and innocence plus the athletic quality of her body.

John Candy had the funniest lines. "Haven't you ever seen a guy who slept with a fish before?" And later, when all the reporters crowded around them. "Is Penthouse here?" (they tell him no) "Then we ain't talking!"

This was a great first entry for Disney's more adult-oriented fare.

[–] leobourne 12 years ago

Not fair. Everyone looks at movies differently.

[–] ms-zanadu 13 years ago

I totally agree this was a wonderful movie and it has a most memorable cast too ( especially John Candy ! this movie is practically a collectable now because he was in it IMPO and I couldn't see anyone else playing his character ) . Daryl Hannah did excellent as the mermaid Madison even swimming in the beautiful underwater scenes ( I believe that wasn't a stunt person either just her for real ) . Tom Hanks also was just right as Allen ( also I honestly couldn't see anyone else playing his character either ) . This movie is definitely for the lover of 1980's fantasy & myth storyline films or just for folks who like an imaginative , clever , & a feel good storyline too . Thanks miaowface for your subject post ( sorry your friend didn't appreciate it as all of us here did but please don't let it get you down just enjoy it because you like it - I'm glad it's on DVD now too ) .