- Cocoon: The Return
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Cocoon: The Return 
Promotional movie poster for the filmDirected 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 OliverMusic 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
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.
Cast
- Don Ameche ... Art Selwyn
- Wilford Brimley ... Ben Luckett
- Hume Cronyn ... Joe Finley
- Courteney Cox ... Sara
- Brian Dennehy ... Walter
- Jack Gilford ... Bernie Lefkowitz
- Steve Guttenberg... Jack Bonner[2]
- Maureen Stapleton ... Mary Luckett
- Jessica Tandy ... Alma Finley
- Gwen Verdon ... Bess McCarthy-Selwyn
- Herta Ware ... Rosie Lefkowitz
- Tahnee Welch ... Kitty
- Barret Oliver ... David
- Linda Harrison ... Susan
- Tyrone Power Jr. ... Pillsbury
- Clint Howard ... John Dexter
- Charles Lampkin ... Pops
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.Soundtrack
Cocoon: The Return Film score by James Horner Released 23 November 1988 Recorded 1988 Genre Soundtrack Length 9 at 53:26 Professional reviews 
The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space.
- Filmtracks
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]
- "Returning Home" (6:05)
- "Taking Bernie to the Beach" (4:31)
- "Joe's Gift" (8:06)
- "Remembrances/The Break-In" (8:24)
- "Basketball Swing" (6:58)
- "Jack's Future" (2:44)
- "Growing Old" (1:55)
- "Good Friend" (3:16)
- "Rescue/The Ascension" (11:29)
Reception
The movie had a mixed 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.
References
- ^ "Cocoon & Its Sequels". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-11-27/entertainment/ca-675_1_screen-sequel. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ "With 'Cocoon' Sequel, Guttenberg Repays Favor". The Morning Call. http://articles.mcall.com/1988-11-25/features/2662423_1_steve-guttenberg-cocoon-sequel. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ Cocoon: The Return soundtrack review at Filmtracks.com
- ^ "Cocoon: The Return' Brings Back Respect For Older Citizens Movie Review". The Morning Call. http://articles.mcall.com/1988-11-24/entertainment/2662557_1_tahnee-welch-barret-oliver-sequels. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- ^ "Cocoon: The Return" movie review at SunTimes.com by Roger Ebert
External links
- Cocoon: The Return at AllRovi
- Cocoon: The Return at the Internet Movie Database
- Cocoon: The Return at Rotten Tomatoes
Films directed by Daniel Petrie 1960s The Bramble Bush (1960) · A Raisin in the Sun (1961) · The Main Attraction (1962) · Stolen Hours (1963) · The Idol (1966) · The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966)1970s Moon of the Wolf (1973) · The Neptune Factor (1973) · The Gun and the Pulpit (1974) · Buster and Billie (1974) · Eleanor and Franklin (1976) · Lifeguard (1976) · Sybil (1976) · Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977) · The Betsy (1978)1980s Resurrection (1980) · Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) · Six Pack (1982) · The Dollmaker (1984) · The Bay Boy (1984) · Square Dance (1987) · Rocket Gibraltar (1988) · Cocoon: The Return (1988)1990s 2000s Wild Iris (2001)Categories:- American films
- English-language films
- 1988 films
- Alien visitation films
- 20th Century Fox films
- Sequel films
- Films directed by Daniel Petrie
- Films about health care
- Films shot in Florida
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