Splash

Name: Splash
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Released: March 9, 1984
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Daryl Hannah, Tom Hanks

1984

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Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 47 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 47 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: March 9, 1984 | PG

Starring: Daryl Hannah, Tom Hanks

Summary: A young man is reunited with a mermaid who saves him from drowning as a boy and falls in love not knowing who/what she is.

Director: Ron Howard

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Rita Kempley

It is a triumph for director Ron Howard, underwater photographer Jordan Klein, the writers and even the guy who made Hannah's latex tail (Robert Short). And it's surely the stairway to superstardom for costar John Candy and the lovely leading nyad. Splash, a departure for struggling Disney Studio, is as irresistible as the siren's song. [09 Mar 1984, p.23]

Duane Byrge

Splash, the story of a lovelorn bachelor who falls in love with a mermaid, deserves high marks both for technical verisimilitude and artistic merit. Read full review

Pauline Kael

This romantic comedy-fantasy about a mermaid (Daryl Hannah) who falls in love with a New Yorker (tom Hanks) has a friendly, tantalizing magic.

Janet Maslin

Splash could have been shorter, but it probably couldn't have been much sweeter. Only purists will quibble with the blissfully happy ending, which has the lovers swimming through a shimmering underwater paradise that is supposed to be the bottom of the East River. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

The movie that really showed Tom Hanks' promise as a deliverer of great comedy and heart-warming pathos. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Director Ron Howard has a good sense of the whimsical, and his film is sweet and unpretentious, though somewhat ribald when one realizes the studio from whence it sprang. Read full review

Larry Kart

This comedy-romance about a mermaid who falls in love with a man does have one thing going for it, the lithe shape and pleasant underwater smile of actress Daryl Hannah. Otherwise, it's a desperately unfunny film that wastes the talents of SCTV favorites John Candy and Eugene Levy. [08 June 1984, p.12]

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User Reviews

FilipeNeto

May 13, 2020

This film is one of the first cinema works of Tom Hanks' career, and is perhaps one of the most interesting comedies in which he entered. In fact, among the endless list of romantic comedies of the 1980s, it is one that has stood the test of time. The story tells how a mermaid falls in loveThis film is one of the first cinema works of Tom Hanks' career, and is perhaps one of the most interesting comedies in which he entered. In fact, among the endless list of romantic comedies of the 1980s, it is one that has stood the test of time. The story tells how a mermaid falls in love with a young man, how she finds him again in adulthood, and how they struggle to be together, despite the fact that she is different and the army want to capture and study her.

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, it has charm. The work of all involved was well harmonized for a good final product. Despite using a mythological being that doesn't exist, the film's credibility is not an issue. The film intends to use fantasy to make audiences dream, and it does it very well. Tom Hanks was young, but his excellent work here reveals talent and a promising future that, in fact, came to happen. Daryl Hannah was a beautiful woman, truly attractive and showy, and she knew how to use that in her character. She steals the spotlight whenever she appears on scene. It is curious how their careers flowed so differently, with Hanks achieving stardom and Hannah always keeping a low profile. Eugene Levy and John Candy also did well and ensure the comical moments with professionalism and effectiveness.

Ron Howard is a good director and has given a lot of proofs of professionalism and competence to this day. In this film, the painstaking way in which he directed the cast and how he takes advantage of New York's landscapes and scenery is palpable. Cinematography is quite regular, but makes good use of underwater scenes, although I do not believe that the waters of New York can have the colours and life that we see here, and that they look more like the warm waters of the Caribbean or the coast of Australia . The set of the sunken ship is also a mistake and could never be real, but it is a common thing when you imagine old shipwrecks. Finally, a word of praise and appreciation for the song used in the final part of the film, in the final credits, which are one of the most beautiful parts of the entire film.

I am not a fan of romantic comedies, even though I know how to enjoy them. This film, however, is one of those that I have seen several times since I was a child. I think he has aged well and I am sure we will continue to see him for a few more years.… Expand

10 of 10 users found this helpful100

Toasty87

Jul 12, 2020

One of the better early films by Mr Hanks the story is a little stale though.

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

Steven1981

Apr 24, 2020

SPLASH is a 1984 comedy, romance, fantasy film directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, Daryl Hannah and John Candy.... Tom Hanks in Splash plays some guy named Allen who as a kid saw a child mermaid in the water and I think John Candy played his brother in the film but notSPLASH is a 1984 comedy, romance, fantasy film directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, Daryl Hannah and John Candy.... Tom Hanks in Splash plays some guy named Allen who as a kid saw a child mermaid in the water and I think John Candy played his brother in the film but not 100% certain. Ever since his childhood ordeal he has never forgotten it and wishes for true love when he's adult age (a fully grown man) but nobody wants him so downs his sorrows in drink and alcohol. One day or night he goes to Cape Cod because he feels happy there yet he doesn't know why but after an accident he nearly drowns but is rescued. Waking up on dry land he sees a naked woman who swims away and that's the end until she tracks him down due to him leaving his wallet or something in the water with his home address on it. Later Tom Hanks finds out the lady is a mermaid yet he was in love with her and feels embarrassed and stupid. The ending of the film is a happy ending but you'll just have to see it to find out the ending but Splash is a good film but it has it's flaws and faults so I can't give it a 10 rating. The main problem with Splash is though even funny at times the larger than life John Candy as Freddie is also very annoying and acts like he's in a completely different film to everyone else because he's too over the top and loud. The second problem is Eugene Levy is a bit pathetic but besides that this film is okay. Not great but okay.… Expand

0 of 13 users found this helpful013

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