Cocoon Movie Reflection

The movie Cocoon is about life: relationships, aging, decisions and acceptance. It focuses on a group of lovable aging misfits living in Sunny Shores Retirement Home who seem to have gotten the message that friendship, love, comradery and helping others is the key to sanity in old age. Although they each endure age related maladies, three of the men sneak in to a neighboring pool for casual swims to relive the youthful mischief associated with teenagers. Arthur, Ben and Joe notice strange, giant pod formations on the pool’s bottom one day but, swim anyway. Suddenly their aging bodies feel better, have more strength and energy; they feel more like their younger selves, even turning up the romance with their wives. Little do they know aliens

When invited for a swim in the rejuvenating pool, he begrudgingly “trespasses” but, refuses to take a dip despite the raucous fun his friends are enjoying with newfound vigor. He is afraid to change his destiny, not wanting to go against nature. In truth it seems that he is resigned to his life as it is and is afraid of what changes to the status quo might bring. He, most likely, was a conformist his whole life, sacrificing excitement and fun fearing judgement meanwhile judging those who throw caution to the wind. In looking at Bernie’s personality and resignation to age as he was intended, his decision is sound. It fits his morals and concepts of right and

David, Ben and Mary Luckett’s grandson, who is devoted and close to them, escapes to the boat they are leaving on to join them. I believe David should have been returned because he is still quite young and needs his mother as well as time to grow from his current adolescent self to the man he will eventually become on Earth. It would be unfair that he never experiences the joys and pains of physical and emotional growth, development of who you want to become and who will be your friends and lovers in life. It would be terribly dishonorable to take him to Antarea without his mother Susan’s permission. It would be morally wrong to deny a parent access to her child, so taking him away to their nuclear family and his development. We could however, make a case for the benefits of him escaping with the elderly people; eternal life with the grandparents he loves so much. What is life like with the aliens? Perhaps it is filled with beauty, love, good health, happiness and adventure. Maybe they never experience betrayal, sadness, illness, depression, loss of agency or have need to worry about money; could it be like Heaven? I am somewhat torn but must look at the simple facts that David leaving would amount to a parent whose child is snatched from their lives; that lives with a hole in their