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 have been telling as many friends as possible about this movie. I am 85, a widow, and lots of my friends are my age or older. There were so many things that didn't quite ring true here....Mirren was wonderful but she isn't really able to sell a chatty woman with a Southern accent, less educated person than her husband. I've had several Alzheimers sufferers in my life and in many ways Sutherland didn't seem to fit the bill. For instance I wonder if he could really drive that house trailer. But, in spite of absolutely everything the total story rang true and had a strong effect on me.

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

Fugitive, 70-something grey nomads John (Sutherland) and Ella (Mirren) dust off their old Winnebago for one last trip, to visit the Florida Keys and the home of Ernest Hemingway. John is a retired literary professor and Ella has always wanted to take him there. Their disappearance scares the hell out of their grownup kids who, while pleading with them on the phone to come home, vacillate between respecting their wishes and calling the cops on their irresponsible parents.

THE LEISURE SEEKER is an at times funny, at times poignant, perhaps even confronting but also very real tale of what's waiting for us all as we near the end of our respective journeys. The film is a study of 'memento mori' and a pretty honest exploration of the gradually diminishing range of options as age and failing health catches up and overtakes even those not quite ready to call it a day.

Although it evoked a strong emotional response from the reviewing audience, it didn't feel either glib or particularly dark or depressing. Rather, it played as the celebration of a family's unembellished life and their enduring and at times conflicted love for one another.

I saw this film like a precious gift from two great actors. Their magnificent performances, the inspired script, the nuances of love, the powerful connection and the simple manner to be part from the other are more than beautiful. It is an useful film. This is its basic virtue and the heart of the emotion about it. A couple, a travel and the splendid chemistry between Hellen Mirren and Donald Sutherland. Enough for a form of stop time. For admire one of profound forms of romanticism.