There isn't a lot of verbiage to be expended on this film,
which was originally called the Boynton Beach Bereavement Club until some
marketing guru pointed out that "bereavement" is a word rarely found in the
title of light romantic comedies. The entire project is basically an extended episode of Love American Style. You know, it's the
one where
all the American lovers are living in a retirement community, brought together
as members of a club for people who have recently been left alone by the passing
of a loved one.
The film's
themes are shallow, and the more painful aspects of aging are either glossed
over with glib comedy or ignored completely. The people pair off easily, have
sex almost immediately, and always seem to hit it off. Their conflicts stem
mostly from
trivial matters. One woman lies about her age, another claims to be a widow when
she is really a divorcee, while another has let her driver's license expire. One
man lets his date form a mistaken impression of his career, while another sends an old
picture of himself to an internet blind date (only to find out that she couldn't
care less because she's a hooker!) That gives you the general idea. It's
basically fluff, with the sorts of actors you
would expect in such fare: Dyan Cannon (who looks tremendous at 69), Sally
Kellerman (who still has that sexy voice), Brenda Vaccaro, Michael Nouri, Len
Cariou, and Joseph Bologna. Excepting Nouri, they were all born in the mid
1930s, and are playing older version of the roles they have been playing all their lives.
The characters are usually too busy being cute to be real, but Cariou
does a great job at drawing audience empathy as the shy guy, and everything
works out pleasantly for one and all.
If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to
read the
explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by
our definition, a
C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs
and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:
