Splash (1984) — Paris McGarry

Midtown, Manhattan

Available to stream on Disney Plus

Tom Hanks starts off the film as a man who can’t seem to fall in love, no matter how perfect the woman is. Enter Daryl Hannah, the mermaid, who for the first quarter of the film cannot communicate with him except for through sex. I’ve never seen a film with so many great shots of being on New York City streets and such an absurdly 1980s premise. Allen, Tom Hanks’ character, and Madison, Daryl Hannah the mermaid, are childhood loves who didn’t meet at the right moment. Through a drowning incident, Allen’s inability to swim, a heroic mermaid, and a lost wallet, Madison makes her way to track down Allen in New York City. When Allen meets this mysterious naked woman (mermaid) on the beach, she kisses him unexpectedly and without a word. The film asks the question, what are you willing to accept in another person when it comes to love and what are you willing to give up for love? Eventually, her mermaid-ness is exposed and Allen’s love for Madison is put to the test. Tom Hanks is the ultimate commitment-phobe who finally learns to commit to the beautiful, naked, lost, and childlike girl. It is a true film of the 1980s. Daryl Hannah’s perfect beach waves will make you run out and buy a hair crimper. The true underrated star of this film is John Candy who plays Tom Hanks’ brother and is in maybe one of his best comedic roles.

Ron Howard is best known for directing Apollo 13 (1995), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Cinderella Man (2005), and The Da Vinci Code (2006), also with Hanks. He is also famous for his acting roles at a younger age in The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days, and American Graffiti (1973). The film is based on a story by Brian Grazer, Howard’s longtime producing partner.

Tom Hanks won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Forrest Gump (1994) and Philadelphia (1993) and was nominated for Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), and Big (1988). He starred in two other classic New York City romance films, Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You’ve Got Mail (1998).

Daryl Hannah is most famous for her roles in both Kill Bill: Vol.1 (2003) and Vol. 2 (2004), Wall Street (1987), Blade Runner (1982), Steel Magnolias (1989), and Roxanne (1987).

Daryl Hannah (Madison) and Tom Hanks (Allen)