In association with

Mermaids [1990]
from MGM Entertainment
starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder, Michael Schoeffling, Christina Ricci
directed by Richard Benjamin

Features:

• Anamorphic
• Dubbed
• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

Richard Benjamin's off-beat 1990 comedy Mermaids found Cher at the peak of her big-screen form. She plays Mrs Flax to the manner born. The eccentric mother feeds her two daughters on hors d'oeuvres and sticks a pin in the map to decide the family's next destination when her love affairs have run their course. When they reach New England, however, events--and an unlikely but amiable suitor (Bob Hoskins)--interrupt her self-centred progress and bring the facts of life home to roost with a vengeance. It's a well-made comedy with good performances from Cher and Hoskins, although neither of them is particularly stretched. There is also enough tension in the relationship between Mrs Flax and her eldest child to make it poignant as well as funny. As the Flax daughters, Winona Ryder (neurotic, unworldly Charlotte) and Christina Ricci (swimming-mad "fishhead") show plenty of the promise which has since made them two of America's most appealing film actresses. Stuffed with authentic 1960s detail, Mermaids is actually a modern "woman's picture" which affirms the often precarious bonds of family relationships.

On the DVD: Presented in widescreen format, optimised for high-resolution television sets, Mermaids is a vibrant visual treat for anybody with an affection for 1960s kitsch and fashion. The picture quality is superb and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack sharp; some cracking dialogue has to share the sound waves with thumping hits of the day and, over the final credits, Cher's global smash hit rendering of "It's in His Kiss". But apart from a multilingual choice of soundtracks and subtitles and the original theatrical trailer, there are no extras. --Piers Ford

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Something special
  This film is about a disfunctional family consisting of rachel(cher) the mother, charlotte(Winona Ryder) the 15 year old daughter who seeing her mum go through dozens of boyfriends is attempting to lead a good christian life and little Kate(Christina Ricci) who has a talent in swimming, just like her father who her mum never caught the name of!
  The family end up moving to a new state everytime rachel ends a relationship, which seems to be alot, we see them as they leave their home and head for boston.... more info

• Ricci, WInona and Cher make a great trio
  Oh yeah, another incredible performance by Cher. Sure, it's no Moonstruck, but Mermaids is very entertaining. I also have to mention that Winona Ryder did a fantastic job, and young Christina Ricci is absolutely adorable. I only have a couple of problems with the film. The first is Cher's character. The character is very predictable and equally as hard to swallow. She is almost too abrasive and inept to be real. Winona Ryder's character experiences much more growth during the course of the movie than Cher's... more info

• Where's the storyline?
  Mermaids is a film set in the mid 1960's starring Cher as Rachel Flax, the single mother of a somewhat disfunctional family consisting of a young Winona Ryder as Charlotte Flax, a naive 15 year old with an aspiration to become a nun and her younger sister played by Christina Ricci.
  The Flax family never stays in one place for too long with Cher's character moving the family from town to town every time a problem/scandal arises rather than face the situation head on.
  After moving to a new town... more info

• A sweet, funny film
  Possibly one of the best films of the early 90s, "Mermaids" is both a snapshot of the 1960s and a wonderful portrait of an unconventional family that doesn't try too hard to be whimsical. Cher plays unconventional Mrs. Flax with flair, breezing through the film with a cigarette in her hand and her hair always perfectly in place. Christina Ricci is adorable as Kate, the swimming fanatic (a complete contrast from her more famous role, Wednesday Adams!). Bob Hoskins inhabits his role of smitten shopkeeper with... more info

Similar Products:

More from Amazon