1h 57m
Director: Ron Howard

This is a magical film with a gorgeous premise. Aliens visit earth and their energy offers a group of OAP's a second chance at life by healing them and renewing their vigour.

The old folk all live together in a retirement home where they face their inevitable demise as they get gradually older and their health fails. Because they're in a community they are constantly reminded of their frailty as they watch their neighbours suffer and die around them.

The aliens are in cocoons which have been transported from the ocean to be stored in a swimming pool.
The OAPs sneak into the swimming pool frequently for a swim but all notice the rejuvenating effect proximity to the cocoons is having on them. Initially, this reinvigorates their youthful interests but as an audience we're not quite sure if the energy is coming from the excitement created by the risk of sneaking into the pool and not getting caught.

Joe has a serious medical condition which his doctor informs him has gone into complete remission. Arthur romantically pursues a woman he likes. Ben feels more full of life than ever.

Meanwhile, Jack (Steve Guttenberg) who captains the boat the aliens use to retrieve the cocoons discovers that the people he's working for are extra terrestrial. Walter (Brian Dennehy) who is the leader of the aliens explains to him that they are on a mission to retrieve their 'ground crew' who were left at the bottom of the sea a long time ago. The film toys with the audience a bit here, implying that the aliens might be up to no good.

The aliens discover the old men using their pool. The revitalising visits stop. Their energy dissipates and Joe's cancer returns. Eventually, Ben petitions Walter for use of the pool - Walter agrees as long as they agree to leave the cocoons alone. This causes the men to also take their wives and girlfriends on their visits to the pool.

Joe's renewed vigour causes him to become a philanderer much to the chagrin of his wife who separates with him.

A public argument leads the other residents to discover the truth about the pool and they charge over there to frolic in the fountain of youth, one of the cocoons is damaged and the alien inside dies.

Walter explains that they can no longer rescue the ground crew because the energy that was in the pool has dissipated, the old folk offer to help him to return the cocoons to the ocean. Walter then offers to take a group of people back to space with him where it is implied they will potentially become immortal.

Joe makes up with his wife, Arthur gives his money away and marries his girlfriend. Ben prepares his grandson for his imminent disappearance.

A large group of pensioners sneak out of the residential home to the boat. The final part of the movie consists of a chase scene / ticking clock as the boat tries to escape from the Coast Guard and deliver the pensioners to the UFO that will take them away.

It's a very touching movie which expertly plays with the contrast between youthful and old age behaviour. You feel the fragility of the characters as they contemplate their demise and you feel the youthful joy as they are lifted up by their renewed vigour.

It's a good reminder about the power of hope as you see the characters go from being resigned to age and die to feeling they have a future to look forward to, it's interesting to remember that their physical appearance doesn't change - just their access to energy and their perspective. If you're worried about your appearance as you get older, you'd do well to remember that!



Trailer: