Mermaids (1990)

73% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(50,182 ratings)

There's no point in recounting the many production problems and personal hostilities which plagued the filming of Mermaids: the end result is all that matters. Set in the 1960s, the film details the relationship between an unorthodox, unmarried vagabond mother (Cher), and her two daughters. The… More There's no point in recounting the many production problems and personal hostilities which plagued the filming of Mermaids: the end result is all that matters. Set in the 1960s, the film details the relationship between an unorthodox, unmarried vagabond mother (Cher), and her two daughters. The 15-year-old (Winona Ryder), continually embarrassed by her flamboyant mother, wants to be the world's greatest Catholic; the nine-year-old (Christina Ricci) would be satisfied with becoming the world's champion swimmer. Moving with her family to New England, the older daughter falls in love from afar with the groundskeeper (Michael Schoeffling) from a nearby convent, while Mom takes up with a lonely salesman (Bob Hoskins). Mermaids is perceptively adapted from the warmly comic novel by Patty Dann. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Richard Benjamin
Written By: Patty Dann, June Roberts
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 14, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Feb 6, 2001
Studio: Orion Home Video

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The delightful Ryder, billing notwithstanding, is really the star.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Miss Ryder is so good, in fact, that "Mermaids" might have dared to be a tougher, more satisfying movie than the stylish sitcom it is.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I found a lot of it preposterous, but I enjoyed that quality. Why do we look at movies? To learn lessons and see life reflected back at us? Sometimes. But sometimes we simply sit there in the dark, stupefied by the spectacle.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Having made something of a specialty of woe-is-me, adolescent angst, Ryder finds a deeper level here, a level of comedy with something genuinely painful mixed in.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It's awash in mediocrity, waterlogged with innocuousness and redeemed only occasionally by sweet-faced Ryder.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
There's something a little insulting about a contemporary movie that reduces women to either trashy bimbos or repressed virgins.
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Moving, but teen sex content meant for discussion.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Self-conscious, eccentric...
Clint Morris, Film Threat
Three generations of greatness
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A bright, buoyant comedy about an unusual mother-daughter relationship.
Dan Lybarger, Lawrence Journal-World
A pleasant but dull coming of age story that doesn't quite swim.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Mermaids has more to it than first meets the eye.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
a Cher fan's dream come true, a lively tale that allows her to play the kind of free-loving free spirit she used to sing about in 1970s numbers like 'Dixie Girl' ('waitin' on tables and passin' myself around' went the lyric)

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer X

I read the Wikipedia synopsis before I started watching this film and I thought the Winona-Joe romance was going to be super uncomfortable (I mean HELLO, you are pushing 30 and you are taking the virginity of a 15-year-old girl?!?!? Pull it together man), but it kinda wasn't. I… More
I read the Wikipedia synopsis before I started watching this film and I thought the Winona-Joe romance was going to be super uncomfortable (I mean HELLO, you are pushing 30 and you are taking the virginity of a 15-year-old girl?!?!? Pull it together man), but it kinda wasn't. I think it is because Winona is super precocious and odd. Anyway. The family of Cher-Winona-Christina Ricci made a lot of sense, and I think one's enjoyment of the movie rests in the believability of the strength and love of the the family bond. I personally thought it was great.
AJ V

A great family drama with a great cast and story. It's very realistic, sweet, and it's humorous as well. I really liked it.
Randy T

Cute but cliched. Nice chemistry between Cher, Winona Ryder and an adorable 9 year old Christina Ricci.
jay n

Charming coming of age drama with a very appealing Cher. Winona's character is a bit of a pill but she carries it off well. Bob Hoskins and the rest of the cast offer nice support and the period feeling is well conveyed without being in your face.
Fernando Rafael Q

MERMAIDS is what you'd call an enjoyable film. Simple as that. It's really funny, and it features an incredible cast that includes Cher, Bob Hoskins, Christina Ricci and Winona Ryder, the latter stealing the whole movie in an amazing turn as nun-wannabe Charlotte.
Candy R

Movie about a single mum and her kids. Great cast and music.
Dean !

A very entertaining comedy drama as a family move town.
A B

Very moving and entertaining. Recommended.
Dean M

Single mother Cher is a constant source of embarrassment to growing daughter Winona Ryder, as well as to us, as she tries diminutive shoe salesmand Bob Hoskins on her size. A schmaltzy, mother and daughter bonding movie of the sort the Americans seem to love.
xGary X

Anybody who wants to see a fat balding cockney getting it on with an ageing advert for plastic surgery, walk this way...at least Winona's cute.
Jason S

A coming of age flick that has three woman of different ages.
Michael G

The scene with Winona Ryder having sex in that attic or whatever was pretty hot, but otherwise this movie was really lame.
Dannielle A

Another coming of age story but a different sort... not like others you've seen before. It could have been better, but the quirky storyline and great acting saved this one!
Miriam K

Never liked Cher as an actress much. . .
Lea L

Great movie..
Sunil J

Aw. Cute 60's stylie fun.
Leo L

A great movie!

Read all 17 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Cher as Mrs. Flax

            Bob Hoskins as Lou Landsky

            Winona Ryder as Charlotte Flax

            Christina Ricci as Kate Flax

            Michael Schoeffling as Joe

            Caroline McWilliams as Carrie

            Jan Miner as Mother Superior

            Caitlin Marie Bottomley as Perfect Family Girl

            Denise Cormier as Pretty Girl in Shoe Store

            Amy Gollnick as Girl in Bathroom #1

            Baxter Harris as Boss in Massachusetts

            Al Hodgkins as Crying Man in Street

            Tamasin Scarlet Johnson as Young Nun

            Russell G. Jones as Judge at Swim Meet

            Pete Kovner as Perfect Family Father

            Patricia Madden as Perfect Family Mother

            Justin Marchisio as Perfect Family Boy

            Richard McElvain as Mr. Crain

            John McGee as Kennedy Mourner

            Carol Moss as Boss's Fiancee

            Seacia Pavao as Girls in Bathroom

            Dossy Peabody as Coach Parker

            Merle Perkins as Nurse

            Paula Plum as Mrs. Crain

            Bob Rogerson as Charlotte's Dad

            Sandra Shipley as Crying Nun

            William Paul Steele as Boss in Oklahoma

            Shawna Sullivan as Charlotte 5 years old

            Betsey Townsend as Mary O'Brien

            Rex Trailer as Dr. Reynolds

            Margery Simkin
            
            Tom Kemp as Carrie's Husband
See full cast