Cocoon: The Return

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Cocoon: The Return

Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by Daniel Petrie
Produced by Richard Zanuck
Written by Stephen McPherson
Starring Don Ameche
Wilford Brimley
Hume Cronyn
Jack Gilford
Maureen Stapleton
Jessica Tandy
Gwen Verdon
Elaine Stritch
Steve Guttenberg
Tahnee Welch
Courteney Cox
Barret Oliver
Music by James Horner
Cinematography Tak Fujimoto
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) November 23, 1988
Running time 116 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $17,500,000[1]
Box office $18,924,919

Cocoon: The Return is a 1988 science fiction film that is the sequel to the 1985 film Cocoon. All of the starring actors from the first film reprised their roles in this film, although Brian Dennehy only appears in one scene at the end of the film. Unlike its predecessor, the film was neither a commercial nor a critical success.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Five years after they left, the Antareans return to Earth to rescue the cocoons that were left behind. Before they can be retrieved, one of the cocoons is discovered by a science research team and taken to a secure laboratory for testing. The aliens and their human allies must find a way to retrieve the cocoon in time for their rendezvous with the rescue ship.

Having returned with the aliens, the elderly couples from the original film face indecision about whether to return to Anterea or stay on Earth and become mortal again. Joe (Hume Cronyn) learns that his leukemia has returned, but he knows it will be cured again as soon as he and Alma (Jessica Tandy) leave Earth. However, when Alma is hit by a car, Joe gives up the last of his lifeforce to save her. Arthur and Bess (Don Ameche and Gwen Verdon) learn that Bess is pregnant, and decide to raise the child on Anterea so they will live long enough to see him grow up. Ben and Marilyn (Wilford Brimley and Maureen Stapleton) decide that being with their families is more important than living forever, so they decide to stay.

The group manages to infiltrate the lab and rescue the captured Anterean. Jack (Steve Guttenberg) sails them out into the ocean, where the space travellers and the cocoons are picked up by an alien craft. Jack then sees Sara (Courteney Cox), and they walk away from the docks.

[edit] Cast

Brian Dennehy held out returning as alien leader "Walter" but finally agreed to a 3 minute scene at the film's end. He accepted no salary and did appear only as a favor to his cast mates from the first film.

[edit] Soundtrack

Cocoon: The Return
Film score by James Horner
Released 23 November 1988
Recorded 1988
Genre Soundtrack
Length 9 at 53:26
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Filmtracks 2/5 stars link

The music to Cocoon: The Return was composed and conducted by James Horner who had scored Cocoon. The score mostly consisted of recycled themes and material from the first film. The soundtrack was released 23 November 1988 through Varèse Sarabande and features nine tracks of score at a running time of just over fifty-three minutes.[3]

  1. "Returning Home" (6:05)
  2. "Taking Bernie to the Beach" (4:31)
  3. "Joe's Gift" (8:06)
  4. "Remembrances/The Break-In" (8:24)
  5. "Basketball Swing" (6:58)
  6. "Jack's Future" (2:44)
  7. "Growing Old" (1:55)
  8. "Good Friend" (3:16)
  9. "Rescue/The Ascension" (11:29)

[edit] Reception

The film had a generally negative reception.[4] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two and a half out of four stars saying "Yes, the performances are wonderful, and, yes, it's great to see these characters back again. But that's about it. For someone who has seen Cocoon, the sequel gives you the opportunity to see everybody saying goodbye for the second time."[5] Cocoon: The Return maintains a 36% rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

The film brought in less than $19 million domestically, less than the first film's $85 million worldwide gross.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Broeske, Pat H. (1988-11-27). "Cocoon & Its Sequels". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  2. ^ "With 'Cocoon' Sequel, Guttenberg Repays Favor". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  3. ^ Cocoon: The Return soundtrack review at Filmtracks.com
  4. ^ "Cocoon: The Return' Brings Back Respect For Older Citizens Movie Review". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2010-11-07. 
  5. ^ "Cocoon: The Return" movie review at SunTimes.com by Roger Ebert

[edit] External links

Films directed by Daniel Petrie
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
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