Okay, settle back into that comfy armchair, maybe imagine the faint hum of a CRT TV warming up. Remember the feeling when a sequel to a movie you genuinely loved appeared on the shelves of the video store? That mix of excitement and slight trepidation? That’s exactly where we land with 1988’s Cocoon: The Return. Three years after Ron Howard’s heartwarming sci-fi fable Cocoon charmed audiences and even snagged Don Ameche a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar, director Daniel Petrie took the helm to bring our favorite revitalized seniors back to Earth. The question hanging in the air, much like those alien pods in the first film, was: could the magic strike twice?
Back to Sunny St. Pete
There was an undeniable warmth in seeing the familiar, wonderful cast reunite. Art, Ben, Joe, and their wives (Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon, Maureen Stapleton) along with Bernie (Jack Gilford, whose character sadly passed in the first film but appears here affectingly) are brought back from their supposed happily-ever-after on Antarea for a visit. The reason? The Antareans, led again by the gentle Walter (Brian Dennehy), need to retrieve cocoons left behind during an earthquake, cocoons now threatened by pesky human scientists. It’s a reasonable enough premise to get the gang back together, returning them to the sunny shores of St. Petersburg, Florida – a location that feels as much a character as any of the actors. Even Jack (Steve Guttenberg) and Kitty (Tahnee Welch) are back, grounding the Earth-side story.
That Familiar Feeling, Faded Glow
Let's be honest, the biggest draw here is the cast. Seeing Don Ameche twinkle, Wilford Brimley grumble affectionately, and the real-life couple Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy share their palpable chemistry again… it feels like visiting old friends. They slip back into these roles with ease, and their interactions remain the heart of the film. Even with reported health concerns for Jessica Tandy at the time, her grace shines through. However, the script, penned by Stephen McPherson and Elizabeth Bradley, doesn't quite give them the same resonant material as the first outing. The themes of mortality, reconnection, and finding purpose are revisited, but they lack the initial film's surprising poignancy. It often feels like the narrative is going through familiar motions rather than discovering new emotional territory. We also get Courteney Cox, pre-Friends fame, as Sara, a biologist involved with studying the cocoons, adding a touch of youthful energy but mostly serving a functional plot role.
Retro Fun Facts: Sequel Shadows
Sequels are always a gamble, and Cocoon: The Return felt it at the box office. Made on a respectable budget of around $17.5 million, it pulled in just under $19 million domestically – a far cry from the original's impressive $85 million-plus haul. It suggests audiences, while perhaps curious, weren't quite as captivated the second time around. With Ron Howard busy crafting the fantasy epic Willow (another 1988 staple!), directing duties fell to Daniel Petrie, a capable filmmaker best known for dramas like the acclaimed A Raisin in the Sun (1961). While Petrie handles the actors with sensitivity, the film lacks that specific blend of wonder and warmth Howard captured so effectively. There's a sense that everyone involved is trying their best to recapture lightning in a bottle, but the spark isn't quite as bright. Filming returned to St. Petersburg, Florida, maintaining visual continuity, but even the sunshine seems a little less magical this time. Composer James Horner also returned, providing a score that echoes the familiar themes but, like the film itself, doesn't quite reach the same heights.
Earthly Troubles and Alien Concerns
The plot juggles the seniors readjusting to Earthly life (and the potential fading of their Antarean vitality) with the more conventional sci-fi thread of rescuing the cocoons from a research facility. While there are touching moments – particularly involving Bernie's unresolved grief and Joe's health scares – these subplots often feel less integrated and compelling than the core emotional journey of the first film. The antagonists, primarily the lead scientist Dr. Feldman (played by Barret Oliver, the kid from The NeverEnding Story!), feel more like standard movie obstacles than deeply felt threats. The stakes just don't seem as personally devastating or universally resonant. You watch it, you enjoy seeing the characters, but the sense of profound discovery is replaced by a more predictable rescue narrative.
A Warm, If Unnecessary, Reunion
Cocoon: The Return isn't a bad film, not by a long shot. It's pleasant, features performances filled with genuine warmth from actors we adore, and offers a comfortable dose of nostalgia. If you loved the first film, chances are you rented this one hoping for more of that feel-good magic. And in moments, it delivers. Seeing the cast together again is undeniably lovely. But ultimately, it feels like an echo of its predecessor rather than a necessary continuation. It lacks the thematic depth, the sense of wonder, and the emotional punch that made Cocoon such a surprise hit. It’s like visiting a beloved vacation spot years later – the scenery is familiar, the memories are fond, but that initial thrill of discovery just isn't quite there.
Rating: 5/10
Why this score? Cocoon: The Return gets points purely for the reunion of its wonderful ensemble cast and the residual warmth carried over from the original. The actors are trying their best, and it's genuinely nice to spend more time with these characters. However, it loses significant points for a thinner, more derivative plot, lower emotional stakes, and a general feeling of being an unnecessary sequel that fails to recapture the magic or thematic depth of the first film. It's perfectly watchable comfort viewing, but ultimately forgettable compared to its predecessor.
It remains a curious entry on the VHS shelf – the sequel we rented because we loved the original, enjoyed for the familiar faces, but probably didn't rewind nearly as often. A gentle return trip, perhaps, but one that makes you appreciate the destination reached the first time around even more.