Cocoon: The Return movie synopsis. Art, Ben and Joe are back! So are their wives and good friend Bernie in their first adventure since their last! Five years since the senior citizens blasted off into space with the Antareans return to earth because their alien friends have to collect the rest of the cocoons in the ocean, believed to be in danger from an earthquake. Ben and Mary visit their family, while Art and Joe visit Bernie, who’s still hangin’ on. Art, Ben and Joe had forgotten what it was like on earth and immediately begin to feel their weaknesses, except for Art’s wife who’s pregnant!
Cocoon: The Return is a 1988 American science fiction fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Daniel Petrie and written by Stephen McPherson. The film serves as the sequel to the 1985 film Cocoon. All of the starring actors from the first film reprised their roles in this film, although Brian Dennehy only appears in one scene at the end of the film.
About the Story
Five years after they left, the Antareans return to Earth to rescue the cocoons that were left behind. Before they can be retrieved, one of the cocoons is discovered by a science research team and taken to a secure laboratory for testing. The aliens and their human allies must find a way to retrieve the cocoon in time for their rendezvous with the rescue ship, while the humans travelling with them must decide whether to return to Antarea or stay on Earth and become mortal again.
Joe learns that his leukemia has returned, but he knows it will be cured again as soon as he and Alma leave Earth. When Alma is hit by a car while saving a child, Joe gives up the last of his lifeforce, saving her life but sacrificing his. Before dying, he tells Alma to take the job and that he loves her. Art and Bess learn that Bess is pregnant, and decide to raise the child on Anterea so they will live long enough to see him grow up.
Ben and Mary reconnect with their family and friends, including Bernie who is shown to have found love with Ruby, alleviating his suicidal depression over Rose’s death. And although a lovelorn Jack once again attempts to woo Kitty, she instead grants him a vision of his future, showing him children and a wife with a small heart-shaped birthmark on her neck.
The next night, before Ben, Mary, Art and Bess leave to meet the Antareans, Alma tells them she is staying on Earth to work at the preschool. Art, Kitty, Ben and his grandson David then rescue the Antarean from the Oceanographic Institute. Sara, one of the scientists working at the institute becomes aware of the company’s plans to hand the alien over to the military. Unhappy about this, when she discovers the rescuers she allows them to escape.
Cocoon: The Return (1988)
Directed by: Daniel Petrie
Starring: Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Courteney Cox, Hume Cronyn, Jack Gilford, Steve Guttenberg, Barret Oliver, Maureen Stapleton, Elaine Stritch, Jessica Tandy, Gwen Verdon, Tahnee Welch
Screenplay by: Stephen McPherson
Production Design by: Lawrence G. Paull
Cinematography by: Tak Fujimoto
Film Editing by: Mark Warner
Costume Design by: Jay Hurley
Set Decoration by: Frederic C. Weiler, Jim Poynter
Music by: James Horner
Distributed by: 0th Century Fox
Release Date: November 23, 1988
Visits: 314
