MERMAIDS. Directed by Richard Benjamin; written by June Roberts; produced by Lauren Lloyd, Wallis Nicita and Patrick Palmer for Orion. Starring Cher, Winona Ryder and Bob Hoskins. Rated PG-13.
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No, this isn't a sequel to Splash. And even though that movie was about an actual mermaid, and this one's only about people, it's the current flick that's the more off-beat.
Full of characters who are amusingly, if somewhat heavy-handedly, eccentric, Mermaids provides quite a few chuckles and more than a couple of painful reminders of the agony of adolescence.
There's an often frustrating lack of substance behind this entertaining surface. But that surface does sparkle.
Director Benjamin says the title refers to the characters' each being part one thing, part another.
Mrs. Flax (Cher) is a free spirit who, despite being a single parent of two, is often maddeningly more childish than her daughters. Elder of these is Charlotte (Ryder) who is 15 and terribly confused about religion, sex, and everything in between.
Little sister Kate (Christina Ricci) is considerably less complicated a person, but comes closest to being a real mermaid—she's a swimming ace. Rounding out the major players is Hoskins as Lou, Mrs. Flax' (we never do hear what her first name is) suitor.
Set in late 1963, Mermaids' story is secondary to the characters' interactions. So it's fortunate that these are amusing and engrossing, if occasionally aggravating as well. Mrs. Flax is just not very likable, being so self-centered, sarcastic and insensitive that you'd like to shake her. I guess that's the mark of an effective performance.
This role is more in keeping with Cher's flaky off-screen image than some of her others have been. Mrs. Flax is even a clothes horse, too. Mermaids supposedly used 100 different costumes, and most of them are worn by Cher.
Since Charlotte is the movie's narrator, we are seeing her mom from a rebellious daughter's perspective, which might taint the image a bit. The extremely busy (and extremely talented) Ryder handles the wide range of Charlotte's emotions well. Though definitely a bit weird, she's a likable kid.
It's Ricci and Hoskins, though, that nearly steal the show. The little newcomer is a delight as Kate, who tries to set breathholding records in bathtub and who plans to swim the English Channel one day. And Hoskins is as much fun to watch as he was in Roger Rabbit.
December 19, 1990