The Second Time Around

"The Second Time Around" is an excellent Canadian picture starring Linda Thorson ("The Avengers") and Stuart Margolin ("Love American Style" and "The Rockford Files"). It's very deliberately paced and quite sweet...and is well worth seeing.

The film begins with Katherine (Thorson) going to a short-term care facility. After all, she's elderly, a widow, and broke her hip and really needs expert care. However, she isn't thrilled by this and is worried this is the first step leading to her being forced into an old folks home. Despite her apprehensions, she turns out to enjoy the place and makes several new friends...including a widower, Isaac (Margolin). Soon, she and Isaac fall in love...which is interesting because they are so different. What's next? See the film.

I like this film because few movies feature elderly actors or the problems and lives of older people. Here, you see that getting old isn't easy...but it's also NOT a bad thing. See this well-crafted film and see what I mean.

By the way, I was particularly surprised by Margolin in this film. After all, he's mostly known for silly interstitials on "Love American Style" and being Rockford's weasel-like friend on "The Rockford Files". Here he gets a nice chance to show he is a lovely actor...and a decent singer.

This had a lot going for it initially, but the pace is tediously slow, they should have cut out at least 30 minutes. I thought Isaac was miscast, as there was no chemistry between the two characters. The daughter lacked "bite", as did most of the characters. Sad, as the reviews had led me to believe it was going to be so much better. Tbh, The Notebook is a much better film about love and old age.

Charming little film about two senior citizens who meet in an assisted-living center. Katherine (Linda Thorson) is sent there to rehab for a broken hip, while Isaac (Stuart Margolin) is a resident. Together, they discover their mutual interests, and their interest in each other. Amusing, touching at times, and never boring, this is a nice movie for the older set. I hadn't seen Thorson since she replaced Diana Rigg in "The Avengers" television series. Here, in her upper 60s, she is simply gorgeous. The big surprise (for me) was seeing Margolin, almost unrecognizable, balding, and with a convincing Yiddish accent. His character could have been ripe for satire, but instead, he gives a restrained performance, and steals every scene. Highly recommended if you're looking for a nice, pleasant diversion. Oh ... make sure to stick around after the closing credits, if you want to see and hear Margolin singing the title song.

Don't write this one off because it's about older people. It's just about the most romantic film I've seen in a very long time. Remember not to turn it off... Wait for the end of the credits... A great reward awaits you. Bella Bella bellisima!!

About romance in later life; well done with some good moments. Beautiful background operatic music.