"Cocoon" 1985

“Cocoon”

It is Wilford Brimley’s birthday today. I was shocked to see that he is only 77 years old. I thought for sure he was at least knocking on 90. I read a blog that pointed out that when he made “Cocoon” he was only 49 years old, the same age as Tom Cruise and my husband are now.

That is crazy. Wilford Brimley has looked old for as long as I can remember. And he’s been doing those diabetes commercials forever. His costars were all in their seventies.

It eaked into popular culture. There is a scene in the movie “Say Anything” where John Cusack goes to he nursing home that Ione Skye works at and hosts a movie afternoon. Wanting to pump up the residents, he chooses “Cocoon” for his screening.

Lloyd Dobler: Okay, how ya doing? I'm Lloyd, and we're gonna watch the movie "Cocoon." I've never actually seen it, but I heard it's very good, it makes you happy, thats a good thing. It's about a group of older people who go to outer space... hope I didn’t give anything away there.

It is a great movie. In a retirement community there is a group of friends. Brimley plays Ben who at the beginning of the movie has just lost his license due to a failed eye test. He puts his cover over his convertible and gets ready to settle into his golden years.

He and his buddies have been breaking into a house and swimming in an indoor pool. Then one day they get there and there is something strange in the pool.

Art Selwyn: [after witnessing the indoor swimming pool being purchased] Club house is closed, Gentlemen.
Joseph Finley: Maybe they could give us permission to use the pool. We could pay them something.
Art Selwyn: It wouldn't be fun if we had permission.

Soon the years seem to be melting away.

Ben Luckett: So you think it's like Bernie said? We're cheating nature?
Mary Luckett: Yes.
Ben Luckett: Well I'll tell ya, with the way nature's been cheating us, I don't mind cheating her a little.

Don Ameche breakdances and falls in love. He won a best supporting Oscar for his role.

Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy are the sweetest couple on the planet. They were married for 52 years and were also costars in “The World According To Garp”.

We also have Steve Guttenberg and Tahnee Welch, daughter and doppelganger of Raquel Welch.

There is funny, sweet, poignant, has wild alien sex and is just lovely. They made a sequel a few years later and even though the cast all returned, it wasn’t the same. I loved the idea of this group of friends heading off on a spectacular adventure.

But still, really, Wilford is 49? I think he must be lying about his age. Or an alien?