84 From ’84: Splash

A young man is reunited with a mermaid he briefly encountered as a boy and falls in love with her without knowing her secret.

Cast:

• Tom Hanks as Allen Bauer
• Daryl Hannah as Madison
• Eugene Levy as Dr. Walter Kornbluth
• John Candy as Freddie Bauer
• Jason Late as young Freddie Bauer
• Dody Goodman as Mrs. Stimler
• Shecky Greene as Mr. Buyrite
• Richard B. Shull as Dr. Ross

1984 viewing

Splash was a big movie back in 1984.

I rented this one weekend with my friend and we watched it at his house. I liked the movie. Daryl Hannah was a good draw for a young boy, Tom Hanks is funny and John Candy is always great.

In 1984 I remembered Candy mostly from his role in Stripes. He was great in Stripes and I liked him in Splash as well. He was the security guard in Vacation too.

Tom Hanks was a new name in movies and I hadn’t seen him in anything. Bachelor Party wouldn’t come out for another six months. I wasn’t allowed to watch Bosom Buddies so I didn’t know him from that show. I did see Mazes and Monsters but never connected Hanks as being in both movies.

Daryl Hannah was a new actress too. She was in Reckless, which I didn’t see back then. She was also in Blade Runner, which I have never seen. I know, everyone tells me to watch it. Maybe someday. Splash was the movie that introduced America to Hannah.

We’ve hit the Top 10 for highest grossing movies of 1984. Purple Rain just missed out of the Top 10 but the Top 10+1 are some of the greatest movies ever made. Let’s look at #10

40th Anniversary Re-watch

It’s still a good movie. It’s a funny romantic comedy. The kind of movie Hanks would bank on in the 90s. Tom Hanks movies in the 80s were mainly goofy comedies. Some were good and some weren’t. He started his move to drama roles in the early 90s and solidified his drama acting when he won the Oscar for Best Actor in the movie Philadelphia.

As a young kid Allen (Hanks) jumps into the water in Cape Cod and sinks. He is saved underwater by a young girl. The girl is revealed to be a mermaid.

Adult Allen can’t find a fulfilling relationship and returns to Cape Cod to get away. While there he once again falls in the water and is saved by a mermaid (Hannah). His wallet falls in the water, the mermaid finds it and uses old shipwreck maps to find New York.

She arrives at the Statue of Liberty and comes ashore naked, causing her to be arrested. She’s holding Allen’s wallet, the police contact him and she is released into Allen’s custody.

The rest of the movie is a literal fish-out-of-water story. The mermaid learns to speak English by watching TV and says her name is Madison after seeing the Madison Avenue sign. Madison’s true identity is discovered by a crazy scientist and Allen must choose between his life on land or in the water with Madison.

Splash is a good romantic comedy. There are a couple of plot holes, like how could Madison read his license if she didn’t know English. Of course it’s a movie about a mermaid who walks on land…

Tom Hanks is good in this movie. I like him better in this that in Bachelor Party. His role in Bachelor Party is over-the-top comedy.

Daryl Hannah is stunning. There were other great actresses in the running but I can’t imagine anyone else as Madison. Hannah did a great job.

John Candy is always great. Even in this early role. He has great comedic timing. In Splash he plays the womanizing older brother who reads Penthouse magazine. When they’re playing racquetball, he takes a break to smoke and drink a beer. Then he serves the ball right into his own head. It’s comedy gold, gold!

Favorite Line:

What you looking at? You never seen a guy who slept with a fish before?

John Candy was a great actor and comedian. I wish he would have stayed around longer. I’d love to see what kind of movies he’d make today.

Splash was directed by Ron Howard, his third movie as director. It’s written by Brian Grazer, known more as a producer in the 80s and 90s. Splash and Grazer were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. It lost to Places in the Heart.

Splash was released on 09 March 1984. It made a huge splash at the box office making over $69.8 million on a $11 million budget. It ranks #10 for highest grossing movies of 1984.

If you haven’t seen Splash add it to your list and watch it soon.

Splash is a great movie and one of the best movies of 1984. For me, John Candy steals the show.

Did you watch Splash? If so let me know your thoughts in the comments below or on X(Twitter). The main Geekster channel is @GeeksterMedia and I’m @MileHighSamurai You can also find me on Bluesky @MileHighSamurai

8/10 stars

Check out the entire 84 From ’84 movie series

Check out all the Blockbusters from 1984