Ella & John - The Leisure Seeker

Mirren and Sutherland are Ella and John, an ordinary, elderly American couple. Suffering from the inevitable ailments of the old, they are nevertheless full of life and embark on a RV journey to Key West, to visit Hemingway's house.

So far, it could be an ordinary feel-good story, but from the beginning we get (or should get) the point that things are not what they seem.

The couple's son is highly distressed by their disappearance. When he walks into their house, we see lots of medical equipment, a clear sign that one or both spouses are in bad health.

Following Ella and John in their journey, we discover that John probably suffers from mild dementia, or memory loss at the very least. John also seems a bit of a flirt, chatting up all young waitresses with his "elderly professor gentleman" charm. This should make some final revelations come as no surprise.

Ella is a chatterbox, determined to give John the time of his literary life, with the long programmed but never executed visit to Hemingway's house. Ella is oblivious to the fact that John is not in the condition to care or understand much about the visit. We also understand that Ella is probably very seriously sick. Her phone call to a crying daughter is another sign that things are not right.

In the evening, during their stopover on their way south, Ella and John watch old photos about their lives. John can hardly remember who most people in the photos are. These quiet moments of lack of remembrance are perhaps the most heartbreaking.

The inevitability of life's end is treated with delicacy and even some humour and the movie is never gloomy or depressing, despite the subject matter. Still, expect to reach for your Kleenex toward the end.

I saw this at an AARP pre-screening and found it to be funny and poignant. The entire audience, composed of young and old people, laughed aloud and applauded often throughout the film. Why? Because the topic, situations presented, and dialogue resonated with experiences common to the lives of everyone watching.

The film addresses topics not often seen in films: intimate loving relationships and romance in the elderly, Alzheimer's, end-of-life issues and family dynamics involved, dying with dignity, personal choice, euthanasia and suicide. There is no preachiness; the viewers are respectfully left with an emotional invitation to reflect upon these issues for themselves. Remarkably, this is done with humour and grace, without self pity or undue sentimentality. The film is not Hollywood glitzy, it may even seem a bit drab at times, but this is part of why it rings true and makes the film work. Everything from the couple's home and basement, the RV they run off in, the campgrounds they stay in, and the nursing home they visit - all of it, remarkably familiar to most Americans. We are being asked to think about extraordinary issues relating to ordinary lives, similar to those we all lead, and it seems that this less glossy calling card works. This approach is also supported by the beautifully nuanced performances given by Mirren and Southerland as they let us into their world of romance, aging, family, incurable illness, and end-of-life choices, all while travelling the landscape of US Route #1.

From start to closing credits, group laughter, applause, and cheering revealed a palpable comradery among the audience members, which told volumes about how well the film accomplished its goal of raising awareness of important emotional, personal, social issues while still offerring an enjoyable night at the movies. I hope you have an opportunity to see it.

Love Helen Mirren, who is something of a national treasure. Similarly, the subject matter and how the film was advertised (although being in the shadow of other films released at the same time, ones people are more likely to go and see, so was not advertised as much and wasn't done so enough) interested and appealed to me.

While not a great film, 'The Leisure Seeker' to me was a good lovely film and achieved at what it set out to do, in portraying the realities of people's final stages and appreciating people you are with more or even more. For me, it is much better than the mixed reviews it's gotten, don't agree personally that it's wasted by the story or has little to say. Have not read the book, having had no knowledge of it, but regardless of how it compares will compare 'The Leisure Seeker' as a standalone and as an overall film. To me that is a much fairer way to judge, especially when there are films or adaptations that may be bad adaptations of source material but are good to great films on their own merits, old and new.

Sure, surprises are very few, it is a predictable film. Especially the ending, one that is obvious too early and didn't ring true and somewhat contrived somehow to me.

Also felt that the political elements were heavy-handed and not necessary. The accidental joining of the anti-Donald Trump rally is amusing, but for somebody who has gotten sick and tired of constantly hearing about Trump (will briefly say he is one of my least favourite people ever), the political elements was something that the film could easily have done without.

On the other hand, Donald Sutherland and especially Helen Mirren are wonderful in the lead roles and have a very charming and touching chemistry together, their characters very rootable. The rest of the cast are solid, but their characters are nowhere near as interesting as the leads. There is the odd funny moment but lots of heart-wrenching ones, did reach for my tissue pack more than once. The two are balanced beautifully.

'The Leisure Seeker' is very nicely filmed and competently directed, allowing the leads to shine and mixing comedy and drama with little problem. The music fits well and the script not only achieves delivering on both the comedy and drama but also as aforementioned balancing them together. The story is charming, sweet and poignant, with thought-provoking moments and makes one feel inspired and appreciative. What it says may not be much new, but it doesn't not have anything to say. The pace never felt dull.

In summary, lovely though flawed film that is better than given credit for. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Films that try to earnestly, honestly explore and detail life experiences to hopefully illuminate and celebrate them--and maybe even help viewers deal with their own similar experiences--are films I always appreciate, even if I can't say I ended up enjoying watching them because the life experiences depicted are so difficult and inherently sad. I should also emphasize now, though, that "The Leisure Seeker" also tries to find the humor in this inherently sad situation, and succeeds at times: There are some very amusing moments. In an interview while promoting this film Helen Mirren said she took the role because the character she was playing was rushing into living and life rather than running away from it when it got difficult, and I agree. Interesting to find out in the closing credits that this is an Italian film production, with an Italian director (in fact, Mirren also said she always wanted to be in an Italian film because they were so inspiring to her when she was young, and it was also one of the reasons she took this role), so it is actually an Italian take on a very American story and road trip taking place in two distinctly different parts of America along the East Coast, from Massachusetts to Florida. I found it reflective and contemplative in a good way, and I was drawn in and glad I took the trip with them, even if I left the theater feeling melancholy and a bit afraid of what my later years may bring to me as well. Recommended, but be aware that your own life experiences may make this a darker or lighter film depending on what you've been through yourself.

Loved this movie, I laughed, chuckled, giggled throughout the entire film. I cannot imagine any other actors doing such a great job w/ portraying crazy real life experiences. We all stumble as we move through the ages of life and I felt this movie did it brilliantly!