O Clube da Feliz Idade

A wonderful film for everyone but how satisfying to see one made for, with and by the over 50 set. Boynton Beach Club adeptly deals with the major life themes of love and loss, the awkwardness of starting over and the resilience of the human spirit at any age. The stellar ensemble cast brought honesty, humor and empathetic discomfort to the real world dilemma's that come with internet dating and single's groups or that anxious first date feeling that is the same whether you are 16 or 60. Sudden widowhood not only forced the spouse to see themselves in new roles but confronted their children with looking at them as people, perhaps for the first time, rather than the role of mom or dad that they had been locked into for decades. Some very refreshing role reversal too. This is an all too rare opportunity to see a fine group of thespian's in roles that are worthy of them and of the audience. I hope this is the first of many to come. If a movie can make the boomer's a little less apprehensive about the impending golden years this is the one. If a movie can make the next generation look at boomer's and seniors more like vibrant people than relics this is the one. You will laugh and sigh and maybe cry when you see this movie. But more importantly you will vote with the only thing Hollywood understands these days, your dollars. Let them know we want more movies like this, we will pay to see them and we have more time and money to spend at the movies than the 20 year old's they seem to exclusively cater to. I will see this movie again and this time I'm taking the kids!

I saw this movie last evening at the Philadelphia Film Festival. It is that rare unusual movie made for adults. The film takes place in an active adult community in Florida. It shows members of a bereavement group as they regain their lives. The film is mature and well done. Don't go it you want the usual geriatric old people jokes. It treats death and new love with great sensibility.

There were opportunities to poke fun at the elderly but this film takes the high rode and shows them as real people. The scenes of finding love the second time were tender and well done. The audience responded in kind and responded well to the filmabout the film

It is rare to see this sensibility in a film were all the actors are over 60. It is well worth seeing.

I saw this movie in Deerfield Beach, Fla. on the same day I visited relatives in Boynton Beach, two towns and about 10 miles north. It was highly recommended by these relatives. The story centers around a bereavement group consisting of seniors most of whom (about 8 out of 9) are females. The movie concerns the problems of dating and (what else?) sex, and it handles this pretty well, following three principal characters through their struggles and doubts. It tackles the problems of getting back on ones feet after the demise of a spouse, and perhaps starting a new relationship. The movie addresses the problems of both the men and the women, and does so thoughtfully and sympathetically. I thought there were a few false moments, contrived for effect, but on the whole it was an honest movie which held your attention throughout. The acting was fine, and I would single out Brenda Vaccaro for her fine acting. I rate the picture as a eight (very good), though I am tempted to add more points because it refrains from demeaning older folks and their problems.

Director/co-screenwriter Susan Seidelman is to be congratulated for a movie based on a generation just about totally forgotten in the movies today: seniors. "Old age is not for sissies" says one of the Tshirts in the movie which mainly takes place at a retirement centre in Florida.

Unfortunately it is pretty formulaic with a few truly poignant moments scattered throughout - enough to engage this viewer and hope for more.

Sadly, they remained just a few. Striking performance by Brenda Vaccaro, what a delight, Len Cariou in one of his best performances and Joseph Bologna showing vulnerability. The rest of the cast are more notable for their surgical procedures which border on truly grotesque in the cases of Sally Kellerman and Dyan Cannon.

Maybe one of these days there will be a movie made showing seniors as they really are, with a truly good plot not centred around snaring a man or woman to make them feel complete. And without the distracting trout pouts favoured by far too many.

Not likely, I know.

6 out of 10 for daring to be different.

This is a movie the allows an older person to still believe there is a future. Romance can come to the over 40 set and be wonderful. Len Cariou is great and believable as is the ensemble cast. Great movie. The story is the human strain and the cast lets you into the human feeling of the senior community of Florida. However, the story is universal.

I recommend this to anyone over the age that they think it's "all over" when you age. This is a forever young movie. I laughed and cried.

My only regret is that it is in limited distribution. It should be shown in the large multiplexes and get a wider audience.