Happy 25th "Mermaids"
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 10:30AM Rachel Flax would never approve of anniversary postings.. But Rachel Flax, portrayed by Cher at the tail end or her weirdly brief A-list actress run, didn't always know what was best so celebrate we shall after the jump...
I recently I asked the team here to share their favorite moments from Mermaids (1990) and was horrified to realize how few remembered Mermaids (1990). Joe Reid is a super fan so I know I'm not alone but where are all the Mermaids fans these days? Where to even begin with this delightful film from 1990 which just turned 25. It's a holiday picture in the tradition of Meet Me In St Louis (hear me out) in which you sit back and enjoy the comic antics and nostalgia-laden heartache of one girlie family through various holidays onscreen.
Favorite moments are so many:
- Cher slapping Noni (trust that she asked for it with that "town slut" comment)
- Noni's poseur Catholicism
- Cher's marshmallow kabobs
- Cher's flirtations with unlikely dreamboat Bob Hoskins
- Noni trying out bad girl poses and makeup
- Hunky Michael Schoeffling seconds before he quit acting altogether
- that finale dance in the kitchen
- and perhaps above all else baby Christina Ricci with a pumpkin on her head.
Rachellll Flaxxxxxxxx
And then there was Cher's international hit "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" and its video starring the actresses. Heaven.
Rachel Flax wouldn't approve of the sentimentality of this post but don't some of you get a little misty when you think of Christina Ricci all tiny and bursting with promise or Winona Ryder at peak popularity? Winona's Supporting Actress Globe nomination and NBR win didn't blossom into an Oscar nod and boy did that hurt back then for her young fans... And trust that we were legion.
Reader Comments (18)
I'll always remember Mermaids because it is the first preview on the RoboCop 2 VHS.
It was one of my mother's favourites, she was always making me and my brother watch the movie with her. good memories.
I absolutely love this movie, I don't remember the first time I saw but it's been several years and then when I found it on Netflix I watched it a few times on there.
Cher is amazing in this and Winona turned in one of her best performances (if not the best?) and she definitely should have been Oscar-nominated that year.
Winona was not supporting though.
I treasure Mermaids. One of those movies that just kind of happened for me - don't know why my friend's mom decided to rent it for us when I was about 10 and so much went over my head, but the rescue of Christina Ricci sure was harrowing. And after that, I stayed put whenever I came across it on TV. It's one of the key films that cemented my eternal devotion to Ryder (Winona Forever).
Cher is simply startastic in this.
Cher as an actress is just heaven.
I have very fond memories of Cher at her best, it's a short list, but "Mermaids" is a must.
Love Cher.
"Unlikely dreamboat Bob Hoskins..."
Yes, the hell he was.
Who didn't want to recreate that dance scene at the end in the kitchen?
aaah and this ending:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEwA1ldUb60
♥♥♥
OMG! Nathaniel, thank you for this post.
I just watched this on HBO. So many good lines.
I love the contrast between when they eat separately throughout the kitchen and then when he makes them all eat dinner together and Cher is all "WTF is this?"
And yes, that final dance scene. My mom, sister and I (I guess that makes me Christina Ricci, which I fully embrace) danced to the song in our kitchen after seeing the movie.
Cher was way betta in this than Moonstruck, tt won her the Oscar!
My fav scene is the pregnancy scare & Winona went for a med check-up under the name......JOAN ARC!!!! lol
Moonstruck did nothing for me apart from the lovely score. I just watched it again on TV, trying to enjoy it nevertheless, but it felt dated and contrived as ever. I agree Cher was more convincing in Mermaids than in Moonstruck. Besides, I love the Shoop Shoop song!
I got in trouble for watching "Mermaids" when I was 7, but somehow allowed to watch "Pretty Woman."
I got in trouble for watching "Mermaids" when I was 7, but somehow allowed to watch "Pretty Woman."
Backwards.
I absolutely love this movie. Great nostalgia here!!