"Actor: Tom Hull"

• Splash | DVD | (14/10/2002) from £9.75   |  Saving you £6.24 (64.00%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Splash was big news in 1984. It was the sole reason for a renewed Disney Studios forming its Touchstone Pictures subsidiary. This was so they could get away with displaying Daryl Hannah's nude bottom! It was also big news for launching the film career of Tom Hanks, who immediately became a massive box-office comedy draw in the 80s. For Ron Howard, it was the breakaway success that guaranteed he'd be able to pursue as diverse a directorial career path as he wanted to. It's a simple romance tale, spiced up by making the female lead a mermaid. The stroke of brilliance in the script was in making the comedy happen around the two leads, while letting them believably convey they are hopelessly lost in love. The comedy comes from the ever-reliable John Candy as a larger-than-life womanising older brother, and Eugene Levy as a scatty scientist. Although New York looks a little different today, the movie has hardly aged at all. Which is just as well since it boldly begins "This morning." On the DVD: Splash offers a transfer that has some defects, but colours and dark areas seem just about right. We're spoiled for extras, with a warmly nostalgic Howard joining a key production crew commentary in reminiscing on how much fun they had making the movie. There's a half-hour documentary ("Making a Splash") interviewing everyone involved, including some archival footage of the late Candy. Best of all are the original Audition Tapes for Hanks and Hannah, which reveal the consummate professionals these once-hungry stars really are. --Paul Tonks

• Little Monsters - Wide- Awake Wesley Plus Other Stories | DVD | (22/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Wesley was always wide-awake. He did anything he could to avoid going to bed. I'm not tired he said at bedtime. He always found a reason to stay up later and later and later... This DVD in the Little Monsters series also features episodes with Clumsy Clarissa Curious Calvin Perfect Prudence Dirty Dermot and Shy Sophie.

• Little Monsters - Sulky Sue Plus Other Stories | DVD | (22/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Sue was a very sulky little girl. Especially if she didn't get her own way. If she couldn't have sweets before lunch or the biggest doll in the shop she sulked. This DVD in the Little Monsters series also features episodes with Sickly Simon Bossy Bethany Rude Roger Worried Winnie and Friendly Franco.

• Little Monsters - Dangerous Dave Plus Other Stories | DVD | (22/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Nothing was too dangerous for Dave. He had the fastest skateboard. He climbed the highest trees. He did the most daring wheelies on his mountain bike. Everyone said Don't do that Dave! It's much too dangerous! But Dave took no notice. He did it anyway. This DVD in the Little Monsters series also features episodes with Sulky Sue Ticklish Timmy Grown-Up Gabby TV Trevor and Rude Roger.

• Splash | DVD | (26/03/1999) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Tom Hanks was a relatively unknown TV actor with a sitcom as his biggest credit when relatively unknown director Ron Howard (best known for his own sitcom acting) cast him in this surprise hit. It made stars of Hanks, Daryl Hannah and John Candy and an A-list director out of Howard. Hannah is a mermaid who comes to Manhattan in search of Hanks, the guy she has twice saved from drowning. Hanks runs a business with his loveable, blowhard brother (Candy), whose goal in life is to have a letter published in Penthouse. When this perfect woman shows up, Hanks can't believe his luck and plunges into a dizzyingly romantic relationship, unaware of her sea-water secret. But the mermaid needs to soak and unfurl her tail from time to time, which leads to complications, including her capture by the government for scientific study (what else?). Hanks is winningly charming and Hannah is a perfect match in this enjoyably high-spirited comedy, though the biggest laughs belong to Candy. --Marshall Fine