Elsa et Fred

"Somethings are priceless." Elsa (MacLaine) is an older woman who isn't happy with anyone or anything. When recently widowed Fred (Plummer) moves in next door the two become fast friends. The friendship develops into more and the two find out that it's never too late to find love. Until Elsa's life turns out to not be what Fred expected. The first thing I have to say is that this was a pretty good movie. Plummer and MacLaine have great chemistry but that is to be expected from two legendary actors like them. The fact that those two are in it is the reason that the movie rises above being a cheesy cookie cutter love story. There really aren't any real surprises in this and goes pretty much how you would expect. All that said I am 35 and this movie isn't really geared toward me at all. I'm sure an older crowd will relate to this better and they will probably find it more enjoyable than I did. Overall, a movie that was OK and I liked it but if I was 40 years older I probably would be able to relate to this better and love it. I give it a B.

I saw this movie a couple years ago as a part of a movie cycle on a channel about old people that try great experiences in old age and I had to see this movie because of its leads (Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer). And it left me a bit surprised.

Fred (the late Christopher Plummer) is a cranky old widowed man who loves to life the way always the same way: sleeping and spending afternoons in front of the TV. After he transfers in a new apartment building there is a woman named Elsa (Shirley MacLaine) who, despite being 80, has a lot of dreams and one in particular: to walk in Rome's Trevi Fountain just like Anita Ekberg did in LA DOLCE VITA. With a bit of imagination she gradually succedds in helping Fred staying out of his apartment more and more and eventually she convinces him to pursue her dream of going in Rome and walking in the Trevi Fountain at night.

I enjoyed this movie very much because the two leads were very unique characters. They were not walking stereotypes but older people who still have dreams and refuse to grow old peacefully. Plummer and MacLaine are terrific here and still in top form and they are supported by few big names: Marcia Gay Harden, George Segal, Wendell Pierce and James Brolin as MacLaine's former husband.

It's quite an enjoyable comedy that has even some very funny moments (like when Elsa wants to learn Fred how to dance and they go to a zumba class... and this was by far the funniest scene in the movie) and I recommend it to all despite is a bit obscure today.

A delightful, charming, warm, funny, sad, inspiring and lovable film! We loved it. But then we're seniors. Younger folks just might not "get it." But there is so much that is so good here, not the least of which is the wonderful chemistry between Christopher Plummer and Shirley Maclaine. They are superb to-gether and exhibit a special "something" that goes beyond their formidable individual acting talents. I don't know why it was shot in New Orleans. The city plays no part in the story. Indeed if you were not familiar with the St. Charles streetcar which trundles across the screen repeatedly and needlessly, you might not even know it is New Orleans. But aside from such minor nitpicking on my part, it is a tremendously warm and human movie with two superbly crafted characters played by two brilliant stars. Good entertainment for anybody. Essential entertainment for anybody over 65!

I didn't expect too much of this but came away pleasantly surprised. Maclaine and Plummer had good chemistry and it was a good reminder that life and feelings don't stop with the first grey hair. I thought the relationships between parents and children were realistic as it's almost a role reversal and the children start treating the parents like children. It was a change watching a love story that didn't involve a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman and showed that love is love no matter what age you are when you find it. Although the plot was predictable, it was a nice ride and one I would recommend for a Sunday afternoon.

This movie wanted to set a mood and lure us in to the depression of old age while extracting us with the allure of romance. However, the movie just falls short. The mood is never quite right. The writing is sub par, and the acting (other than Shirley Mclain) is equally substandard. Not even Shirley can raise up such a bad movie. The plot was overly predictable, and in general, this one should be skipped. The reason you probably never heard about is that is just isn't good, which is unfortunate, because it had so much potential. Instead watch "Wrestling Earnest Hemmingway" for a much better version of spicing up life among older individuals.