Mermaids (1990)

"The screenplay is poignant and hilarious, the soundtrack banging and (most of) the acting excellent."

"Richard Benjamin has directed with too much zest, pushing his cast toward antic behavior."

"(A) belaboured glob of whimsy..."

"As eccentric mother-daughter films go, this... falls into the same category as Terms of Endearment, with many of the same comedic pleasures and dramatic pitfalls."

"The picture's strong characters and acting carry it to at least a partial success."

"(A) slightly soppy but often amusing comedy drama..."

"It's awash in mediocrity, waterlogged with innocuousness and redeemed only occasionally by sweet-faced Ryder."

"I found a lot of it preposterous, but I enjoyed that quality."

"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."

"Self-conscious, eccentric..."