Mermaids (1990 film)
| Mermaids | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Benjamin |
| Produced by |
Lauren Lloyd Wallis Nicita Patrick J. Palmer Suzanne Rothbaum |
| Written by |
Patty Dann (book) June Roberts (screenplay) |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Jack Nitzsche |
| Cinematography | Howard Atherton |
| Edited by | Jacqueline Cambas |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $31 million[1] |
| Box office | $35,419,397 (US Only)[1] |
Mermaids is a 1990 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder (who was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress for her role), and Christina Ricci in her first film role. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same title written by Patty Dann. It was shot in and around the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts and Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Plot
The film is narrated by Charlotte Flax, a teenage girl living in Oklahoma with her glamorous but eccentric mother, Rachel (whom she calls "Mrs. Flax"), and her child sister, Kate. The narration begins in early fall of 1963, just as Rachel's latest fling with her married employer ends and she decides to relocate with her daughters once again. This time, they move to a new home near a convent in the small town of Eastport, Massachusetts. Charlotte, who has an unusual obsession with Catholicism and is always reminded by Rachel that they are Jewish, idolizes the nuns living in the convent. Kate, on the other hand, loves oceans and swimming. She apparently learned to do so when she was a baby, giving her Olympic potential and allowing her to win many competitions.
In Eastport, Charlotte becomes especially interested in Joe, the 26-year-old handsome caretaker of the convent and local school bus driver, while Rachel falls in love with a local shop owner named Lou Landsky. After the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Charlotte comforts Joe in mourning and they end up kissing in the bell tower where he rings the church bell. After the encounter, she begins fasting in order to purge her sinful thoughts, but eventually passes out from hunger and starts eating again. Soon fearing that God may be punishing her by making her pregnant through immaculate conception and unable to talk to her mother about it, she steals Rachel's car and runs away. She stops at the house of a "perfect nuclear family" in Connecticut, asking to spend the night, telling them her name is Sal Val and other wild stories, which they don't seem to completely believe. Later on, she is picked up by Lou and taken home, where Charlotte immediately receives a harsh scolding from Rachel. When Rachel calms down after drinking some Scotch liquor, she tells Charlotte that she was worried sick about her safety and, thinking that it's her fault that Charlotte ran away from home, admits that even though she's not an expert in parenting, she's willing to compromise and try her best to take care of both Charlotte and Kate. The next day, Charlotte makes an appointment at the nearest hospital, where she goes to see an obstetrician and is told she is still a virgin. Relieved, she goes home, dispelled of her assumption that "one kiss can get you pregnant".
At a New Year's Eve costume party, Lou asks Rachel to move in with him but she declines, reminding him that they're both still married to different spouses. However, she's not willing to break up with him nor let their relationship progress either. They have a big fight which ends with Lou calmly leaving in disappointment. Rachel then asks Joe for a ride home, after which she wishes him a happy new year and kisses him. Charlotte sees this and feels that her mother is trying to steal him away. The night after the incident, Charlotte dresses up in Rachel's clothes and makeup, and she and Kate get drunk on wine. Hearing the church bells ringing, she then takes Kate to the convent to see Joe. Kate decides to stay behind and collect rocks while Charlotte goes up to the bell tower to find Joe and ends up losing her virginity to him. Unbeknownst to them, Kate falls into a river and almost drowns, but is saved by the nuns and is taken to the hospital. Rachel is very angry at the turn of events and she and Charlotte have a big fight, with Rachel wanting to move again to avoid embarrassment as the whole town is talking about Charlotte and Joe. However, Charlotte convinces her to stay there for at least another year.
Time passes in the small town and Rachel's relationship with Lou progresses. Joe moves to California, but keeps in touch with Charlotte via postcards. Charlotte, in turn, gains a reputation in high school due to her fling with Joe and replaces her obsession with Catholicism to Greek mythology, with Rachel now reminding her that they are not Greek. Kate recovered and is swimming again, although the accident left her hearing "sounding fuzzy". The film ends with all three of them dancing while setting the table for dinner.
Cast
- Cher as Rachel Flax (credited as Mrs. Flax), the mother of Charlotte and Kate Flax. In her early 30s, she is very glamorous but eccentric, only making hors d'oeuvres and finger foods for every meal, and frequently relocates with her daughters, already relocating 18 times before the start of the movie.
- Winona Ryder as Charlotte Flax, the daughter of Rachel Flax and the older sister of Kate Flax. 15 years old and born Jewish, Charlotte prefers to be Roman Catholic due to an unusual obsession with the religion. She becomes interested in and starts a relationship with Joe Peretti.
- Christina Ricci as Kate Flax, the daughter of Rachel Flax and the younger sister of Charlotte Flax. She enjoys swimming and is liked by everyone.
- Bob Hoskins as Louis "Lou" Landsky, the local shoe shop owner and Rachel's boyfriend. In his early 40s, he is a great father figure to Charlotte and Kate, and influences Rachel and the girls on how to be a family.
- Michael Schoeffling as Joseph "Joe" Peretti, the 26-year-old caretaker of the convent up the street of the Flax residence. He and Charlotte have a romantic relationship that ends when he leaves town.
- Caroline McWilliams as Carrie, a 35-year-old woman who works with cosmetics and is Rachel's closest female friend. Although married, she is infatuated with Joe.
Production
The role of Charlotte was initially cast with Emily Lloyd. She had begun shooting the film when Cher supposedly made a complaint that she couldn’t play her daughter because she was too fair haired and Winona Ryder replaced her. This statement would be rather ironic given that all of Cher's real life children are blond/fair.[2]
Lloyd sued Orion Pictures Corporation and Mermaid Productions, reaching a settlement on the second day of the trial, 30 July 1991.[3][4][5]
This was to have been the American film debut for director Lasse Hallström until he allegedly repeatedly clashed with Cher and was replaced first by Frank Oz and then by Richard Benjamin.[6][7]
Critical response
The film currently holds a rating of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes indicating largely positive reviews.[8]
Time Out New York wrote; ‘The film is burdened by curious details and observations, and its preoccupation with all things aquatic (little sister is an ace swimmer, Mom dresses up as a mermaid for New Year's Eve, etc.) is overworked. Characterisation suffers, with Charlotte and Rachel too self-absorbed to engage our sympathies. Crucially, they just aren't funny’.[9]
Vincent Canby from The New York Times wrote; "Mermaids, adapted by the English writer June Roberts from the novel by Patty Dann, is a terribly gentle if wisecracking comedy about the serious business of growing up."[10]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Mermaids - PowerGrid". thewrap.com. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
- ↑ "Parkinson interviews Cher". Putlearningfirst.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
- ↑ Kleid, Beth (28 December 1990). "Legal File". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ↑ "A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.". Los Angeles Times. 31 December 1990. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ↑ MacMinn, Aleene (1 August 1991). "Movies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ↑ Yglesias, Linda (17 December 1990). "Getting Along Swimmingly: For `Mermaids,` Cher And Ryder Got To Be A Dynamic Duo". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ↑ Hinson, Hal (14 December 1990). "Mermaids". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
- ↑ "Rotten Tomatoes Review". Rotten Tomatoes Website. Retrieved 8 Aug 2016.
- ↑ "Time Out New York". Time Out New York. 14 December 1990. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ↑ "New York Times Review". New York Times. 14 December 1990. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
External links
- Mermaids at the Internet Movie Database
- Mermaids at MGM site
- Mermaids at Rotten Tomatoes
- Mermaids at Box Office Mojo