Mermaids

Director: Richard Benjamin Richard Benjamin

Overview

"Richard Benjamin's domestic/coming-of-age comedy Mermaids comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround, and a Spanish soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Mono. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the English soundtrack is closed-captioned. Supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer. This is a fine release from MGM/UA, especially when one considers the inexpensive list price."

Product Details

Release Date:	02/06/2001
UPC:	0027616858481
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[stereo, Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:50:00
Sales rank:	16,885

Special Features

Original theatrical trailer; English: Stereo Surround ; French: Stereo Surround; Spanish: mono; French and Spanish subtitles

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Winona Ryder	Charlotte Flax
Cher	Mrs. Flax
Bob Hoskins	Lou Landsky
Michael Schoeffling	Joe Peretti
Christina Ricci	Kate Flax
Caroline McWilliams	Carrie
Jan Miner	Mother Superior
Betsey Townsend	Mary O'Brien,Mary O'Brien
Richard McElvain	Mr. Crain
Paula Plum	Mrs. Crain
Dossy Peabody	Coach Parker
William Paul Steele	Boss in Oklahoma
Rex Trailer	Dr. Reynolds
Pete Kovner	Perfect Family Father
Patricia Madden	Perfect Family Mother
Justin Marchisio	Perfect Family Boy
Caitlin Marie Bottomley	Perfect Family Girl
Merle Perkins	Nurse
Baxter Harris	Boss in Massachusetts
Carol Moss	Boss's Fiancee
Denise Cormier	Pretty Girl in Shoe Store
Al Hodgkins	Crying Man in Street
Tamasin Scarlet Johnson	Young Nun
Sandra Shipley	Crying Nun
Russell Jones	Judge at Swim Meet,Judge at Swim Meet
Shawna Sullivan	Charlotte, 5 years old
Bob Rogerson	Charlotte's Dad
Tom Kemp	Carrie's Husband
Amy Gollnick	Girl in Bathroom #1
Seacia Pavao	Girls in Bathroom
Bill McCann	New Year's Partyer
Dottie Healy	New Year's Partyer
Arnie Cox	Kennedy Mourner
John McGee	Kennedy Mourner
Margery Simkin	Actor
Jack Nitzsche	Composer

Technical Credits

June Roberts

Patty Dann

Richard Benjamin	Director
Lauren Lloyd	Producer
Wallis Nicita	Producer
Patrick Palmer	Producer,Producer
Brian Ricci	Stunts
June Roberts	Screenwriter
Patty Dann	Screenwriter
Mary Andrews	Sound Effects
Mark Berger	Sound Effects
Jeff Bushelman	Sound Effects
Virginia Cook-McGowan	Sound Effects
Suzanne Rothbaum	Producer
Al Laverde	Key Grip
Margery Simkin	Casting

Editorial Reviews

The coming-of-age comedy-drama Mermaids is a warm look at an eccentric family as well as a good example of Winona Ryder during her youthful angst years. Based on the novel by Patty Dann, the comic moments are heavily drawn from the reverse mother-daughter relationship of the zany man-chaser Mrs. Flax (Cher) and the sternly religious Charlotte (Ryder). Portraying a Jewish girl with dark, brooding Catholic obsessions, Charlotte gets some rich comedy out of her peculiar conflict and some genuine moments of adolescent distress. With her funny and delusional narration, Ryder brings her best talents to the character as both a smart grown-up and an innocent kid. Her struggle to be unlike her mother is intensified when she meets Joe (Michael Schoeffling), who is appropriately adorable as the love interest. Even at the age of nine, Christina Ricci is the perfect accent to the family trio, bringing a unique presence as the youngest daughter, Kate. As Lou, the shoe salesman boyfriend, Bob Hoskins adds the right amount of husky charm to fit in with the other strong personalities. Director Richard Benjamin brings a workmanlike approach to the material, perhaps because he was a replacement director due to the problems early on in production. However, the film doesn't miss on style, with the colorful art design and punchy '60s soundtrack adding to the quirky atmosphere. Mostly due to the excellent casting, Mermaids is a delightful movie that celebrates nontraditional families without too many layers of sentiment.