Allen Bauer is rescued from drowning as a young boy off Cape Cod by a young mermaid. Years later, he returns to the same location, and once again manages to fall into the sea, and is rescued once more by the mermaid (Allen isn't sure what he has seen and what he has imagined). Using maps from a sunken ship, the mermaid decides to search for Allen in New York City, sprouting legs when her tail dries. On finding Allen, they fall in love, but she has a secret, which will no longer be a secret if she gets her legs wet.Written by
Rob Hartill
Two days ago, this girl showed up naked at the Statue of Liberty. For Allen Bauer, it was love at first sight. Now, everyone is chasing her... trying to prove she's a mermaid. From the first laugh you'll be hooked. See more »
Credited with introducing the girl's name Madison, which has since become one of the most popular names for newborn girls in the early 21st century. See more »
Goofs
During the final sequence in which Madison rescues Allen from the divers, she uses her tail twice to defend herself. In both instances, a hand is seen positioning a tail prop against the divers. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Mary Bauer:
[catches Freddie looking up women's skirts]
Freddie!
Young Freddie:
I dropped something.
Mary Bauer:
Ralph, talk to him.
[Ralph smacks Freddie upside the head]
Mary Bauer:
Listen to your father. Come on, from over there we can see Cape Cod.
Ralph Bauer:
We were just on Cape Cod. We could have stayed there, I would have saved twelve dollars.
Mary Bauer:
Allen, sweetheart, don't you want to see Cape Cod?
[Allen shakes his head]
Mary Bauer:
All right, darling, you know where we are if you change your mind.
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Crazy Credits
Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah swimming and coming to an underwater city. See more »
Alternate Versions
Some versions cut out the part where Freddie talks in Swedish to the guard. See more »
How to make love to a fish. That would sum up the bizarre story of this sweet and wild comedy featuring fantastic roles by Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah. However ludicrous the story might be, the movie really entices me with its wit and charm. Lovely and funny. Hilarious supporting role by John Candy, one of his best.
The story is really about falling in love with a mermaid, played by Darryl Hannah. She is human out of the water and only becomes a fish in the water. Can fish and human get together and fall in love? Wait and see. Recommended for all ages. This is one heck of a great family film, wich could be enjoyed by young and old.
The true star of this movie is undeniably Tom Hanks. The youthful energy of Tom Hanks just splashes across the screen in this movie. This movie launched his career way back in the eighties. I recently saw an old David Letterman interview with Tom Hanks prior to the release of this movie, boy did they NOT know back then how BIG Tom Hanks and this movie would become.
Hanks in his younger years was an uncontrollable force of comedy and wild antics. Seen it over 10 times by now, for sure. For every Tom Hanks fan this great comedy is a must watch. For anyone else just longing for a hilarious romantic comedy, they dont come much better than this...
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How to make love to a fish. That would sum up the bizarre story of this sweet and wild comedy featuring fantastic roles by Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah. However ludicrous the story might be, the movie really entices me with its wit and charm. Lovely and funny. Hilarious supporting role by John Candy, one of his best.
The story is really about falling in love with a mermaid, played by Darryl Hannah. She is human out of the water and only becomes a fish in the water. Can fish and human get together and fall in love? Wait and see. Recommended for all ages. This is one heck of a great family film, wich could be enjoyed by young and old.
The true star of this movie is undeniably Tom Hanks. The youthful energy of Tom Hanks just splashes across the screen in this movie. This movie launched his career way back in the eighties. I recently saw an old David Letterman interview with Tom Hanks prior to the release of this movie, boy did they NOT know back then how BIG Tom Hanks and this movie would become.
Hanks in his younger years was an uncontrollable force of comedy and wild antics. Seen it over 10 times by now, for sure. For every Tom Hanks fan this great comedy is a must watch. For anyone else just longing for a hilarious romantic comedy, they dont come much better than this...