Why Splash Is Still an A+ Movie
Let’s dive into Splash. (Pun fully intended.)
The reason? I rewatched it the other night with Lucy.
Yes, it’s been 40 years since Tom Hanks fell for a mermaid who walked out of the ocean like it was her own personal runway. But guess what?
Splash still slaps.
First off, Tom Hanks. This was pre-Big, pre-Forrest Gump, pre-“America’s Dad” Hanks. He’s young, scrappy, and wildly convincing as a guy who falls for a woman with zero social skills, a shimmery tail, and a diet that screams “shellfish emergency room visit.” He’s adorable, even when he’s doing dumb stuff like giving a stranger who doesn’t speak directions to his apartment. Bold move, Allen Bauer. Bold move.
Then there’s Daryl Hannah as Madison. Can we talk about the hair? Literal mermaid goals. She’s the kind of effortlessly ethereal that makes everyone else look like soggy seaweed. And the scene where she devours a lobster shell and all on a date? A master class in “I’m hot enough to get away with anything.”
Eugene Levy? Chef’s kiss. As a neurotic scientist trying to prove mermaids are real, he’s the awkward hero we didn’t know we needed. His transformation from villain to accidental ally is comedy gold.
But—and here’s the barnacle on this otherwise perfect ship—John Candy’s Freddie. Listen, I love Candy. The man was a comedic genius. But Freddie? Yikes. He spends half the movie ogling women and cracking jokes that wouldn’t fly today—or then, let’s be honest. His whole vibe screams “HR needs to talk to you… again.”
Still, he’s brilliant here:
Still, Splash is pure magic. It’s got laughs, romance, and just the right amount of ridiculous. Four decades later, it reminds us why we fell in love with Hanks—and mermaids—in the first place. Plus, it’s proof that love conquers all. Even tail-related wardrobe malfunctions.
