A single mother, Mrs Flax (played by Cher), relocates to a small town with her two daughters, Charlotte (Winona Ryder) and Kate (Christina Ricci). We see how their relationship evolves and new relationships are formed.Beautiful, funny, moving movie. Tackles a range of issues, and tackles them well. Plus, add in some hilarious one-liners and scenarios and you have a great movie.Cher surprises by proving herself a competent actress. Winona Ryder is gorgeous and great as her oldest daughter. I am not usually a fan of precocious kids in movies, but 10-year old Christina Ricci, in her first movie role, is great - adorable, bubbly and funny. Bob Hoskins is his usual solid self.Wonderful movie.

Mermaids is the story of a family of three ladies, a mother and her two daughters. Winona Ryder plays the eldest daughter who actually looks down her mother. Ryder dreams of becoming a nun so that she can live a pure and honest life. Cher is the mother, who constantly moves her family around whenever she fails at a relationship. Ryder is tested by a young man that she starts to have feelings for while Cher has difficulty adjusting to a serious relationship with Bob Hoskins. It's a fine film on all accounts as both a comedy and a romantic drama. The rift between Cher and Ryder is an easy one to understand and they both play it brilliantly. You always get the feeling that they are tired of one another, but the love is always present. Hoskins is a fantastic and surprising romantic lead. He gives off a strong dominant force, but also comes across as fragile. It's his strength that gradually repairs this family. Christina Ricci stars as the youngest daughter and it's no surprise she became a star. She manages to do young and cute without being annoying. The soundtrack helps to capture the time period very well. The pacing is often off and it feels like an edited down novel, but when it's hitting those high notes in terms of comedy or drama it is a great watch.

Okay, it's a strange summary.. but maybe it sums up what a play originally was about. This movie takes us into the intimate world of an oldest daughter's coming of age in a transient single-parent family. We haven't all experienced this. If we have, this story would be pointless. The point is the differing experience, there is no value in merely reflecting viewers' own realities.As for me, the drawing card was Winona Ryder. The surprise is the supporting cast: a very young Christine Ricci, wild Cher, horny Bob Hoskins, all make a wonderful compliment to Winona's portrayal of a young woman in the early American sixties.The movie title is deceptive. I suspect the book would be a little clearer in explaining the meaning. It is Cher who dresses up as a mermaid, yet the characters of Winona and Christine who may be the "mermaids." The story, despite this, is a clearly directed and wholly engaging thought-provoker, and well worth your time in watching it.

My mother is obsessed with Cher, consequently she has all her concerts and two movies - 'mermaids' and 'moonstruck'. i'd always see them and never once watched it until one day i was listening to a newly downloaded 60's song by Percy sledge- ( which very coincidently is the song they all sing to at the end of the movie) and i felt really giddy and happy. It was late at night and i had that fresh feeling, so i went to look for something to watch and saw mermaids, i read the back, saw little Christina Ricci and decided to give it a go. As soon as it started i adored it. It truly is an adorable film, it has everything, and of-course some quirk, which is extremely fresh in movies.Cher is so gorgeous and warm, although her character is not, i still love her in it. Winona Ryder is perfect in it! she's truly amazing, cringing at times, but she's just so damn beautiful! naturally gorgeous ( damn her ha-ha ). And adorable Christina Ricci, to say she's cute is a complete understatement, she is more than adorable in this movie, and compliments all the characters. She gives the movie the warmth Chers character lacks and compliments the warmth Cher's face has.I really loved the movie, every moment, i also liked Chers love interest, and i absolutely LOVED a line he says to Cher, i thought it to be extremely powerful more-so than actions " i never wanted to hit a woman as much as i want to hit you right now" (sorry if its not word for word, i don't have the movie with me at the moment, i lent it to my friend so she could enjoy herself as much as i did !) i thought that line was great, its so much more powerful than any hitting would be. All the cast was amazing and great!. Its such a good watch, really if you haven't already, watch it as soon as possible. Its hilarious too! i laughed out loud many a time and rewound just to see it again. This movie is beautiful. i give it 10 out of 10 , purely because it is a simple, honest, down to earth gorgeous piece of work. very nice.Rocio