Old Fashioned

Want to see a romantic movie of two people who have absolutely no chemistry? Well this is your movie. I'm personally not a Christian but even if this movie wasn't a Christian film, it would still be horrible. None of the characters were interesting besides Clay and that was because he was so crazy and his morals made no sense. Clay can't be in a room with another woman because of a promise? Is the guy a rapist or something, it's like the guy has absolutely no self control or something. Clay is also very boring and dull but yet the character Amber finds him charming. Clay also tries and says that dating does nothing and doesn't add to a relationship. He says that what do you learn from jumping in bed and then finding out if you have anything in common after-wards, it begs the question, what kind of dates has this guy been on. Another thing I have with this movie and many other Christian movies is that it portrays all non- religious people as being douche-bags or dick heads. Besides the fact that the characters are boring, dull, and have shitty and stupid morals, the film is still bad. The film damn near put me to sleep. Nothing was interesting in this movie and I have no problems with romance films. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone, not even my religious friends. The only way I would recommend this film is if you wanted to watch something that was so appalling and out there that it's unreal.

How do you make a movie about a young man who's so uptight around women that he won't even be alone in a room with one - and NOT make him come across as some sort of serial-killer-in-training? I don't know the answer to that question, and, apparently, neither do the people who made "Old Fashioned," a snail-paced, poorly acted, Hallmark Channel-level romantic drama that, intentionally or not, turns out to be an off-putting creep-fest.

Clay Walsh (Rik Swartzwelder, who also wrote and directed the film) is the moody antique shop owner who was once a lady-killer and frat boy in his youth, but who now spends most of his time over-thinking his life to the point where just about everyone around him - the audience included - has had it up to here with his borderline- psychotic sanctimoniousness. All, except Amber (Elizabeth Ann Roberts), that is, an attractive young woman who settles into this small Midwestern town with her cat and her dreams after her car runs out of gas there. Though she's supposedly out of money, we never see Amber actually looking for work since she's so busy trying to figure out what makes Clay tick - a full time job, in and of itself, apparently. Initially intrigued by this strange man with unorthodox ideas about love, sex and dating, Amber begins to see him less as a curiosity and more as a man of principle and honor the better she gets to know him (too bad the viewer never really comes to share that opinion of him).

About the best thing one can say about "Old Fashioned" is that its heart is in the right place and one feels almost guilty criticizing it, but, frankly, the movie is so slow-moving and talky that I could barely stay awake through large stretches of it (though there is one surprisingly thoughtful and effective scene involving a bachelor party, I will admit). Surely, there's got to be a better way of getting across the old I'm-saving-myself-for-marriage theme than this. For the problem is that, after being told what a fun, lively, energetic guy Clay was in college, then seeing what he's become now, the only conclusion we can come to is that Finding Jesus turned him into the Bore of the Century - or, at the very least, the ultimate wet-blanket, bringing down everybody's spirits along with his own. Somehow, I doubt that's what Mr. Swartzwelder had in mind when embarking on the project.

I put a great deal of trust in IMDb ratings and reviews, and this Christian love story hanging just below 7/10 was more than enough encouragement for my girlfriend and I to give it a shot this Valentine's weekend. Let me advise you to do otherwise.

We received reliable reviews that this film was "not preachy", and a cut above other Christian films. I enjoyed 'The Ultimate Gift', 'Fireproof', etc. but could not choke this one down, though there was plenty of choking. We winced at each exchange between the main character and his 'predestined' love. The dialogue bluntly beats the viewer over the head with the message that Victorian-era courtship is the only proper way to interact with a woman in a laughably misogynistic presentation of our culture. In the film, simple-minded women are totally at the mercy of their man's virtue or lack thereof, and men are bound to take advantage of that unless they drink tea with their aunt periodically, or something like that. Filmmakers are free to present their message, but someone should tell Swartzwelder that a little subtlety and creativity goes a long way.

We chose not to stick around and learn more about the protagonist's dark past of Girls Gone Wild videotapes. The pretty cinematography couldn't distract from the 'Leave it to Beaver' morals, gushy prattle and suffocating veneration of gramophones, shooting hoops and wood working. Neither of us had walked out of a film before, but 'Old Fashioned' proved to be a ground-breaking film in this regard only.

I liked the pace of the movie, the cinematography, the antique feel. Filled with a lot, what the danish call "hygge" Something I think is very precious and not often captured in many movies. The movie, on the surface might seem like a religious one if one want to see it that way but I for one, am not religious, and it did not seem like one to me as much as it did seem like a movie exploring the idea of 'dating' on a deeper level. To an extent, It did explore the idea of a person having a relationship with him/herself and its importance. Yes, the guy in the movie, did seem screwed up and had these silly rules to his lifestyle with regard to dating. But the girl was also screwed up except it didn't seem that way so much because that is perceived normal these days with everyone running away from their relationships to the next one. And this aspect is exactly what caught me about the movie- That we are all screwed up in many ways so we might as well take the time to get to know each other, which in the process, only helps us get to know ourselves better with the other person being a mirror. Romantic relationships have the power to take us to those realms in ourselves that no other relationship does. It is not easy. It is very confronting as the other person is a mirror to look into ourselves. Now during this process of looking into ourselves, many of us, run away, hide, create walls and boundaries and silly rules to protect ourselves, which is what the characters in the movie do as a result of the shadows that exist within them. I like the pace of the movie and the idea of taking it slow coz i guess facing our shadows and allowing someone into our lives does take time, being authentic and vulnerable with ourselves in the presence of another, does take time. Allowing ourselves to get intimate with another is allowing someone into our space and that takes some getting to know, and connecting, not just on the surface but on a deeper level. And that takes time which is a beautiful process. I also loved the dating ideas portrayed in the movie. Cheers to taking time and taking it slow :)Cheers to the "Old Fashioned" ways. It does have a charm too.

I went to see this movie to support the idea that young men and women can enter and sustain a relationship without using each other for sex on their first date! I listen to a radio station out here on occasion and believe me, it happens way way too much. So sad. I really liked this film. By the time it was finishing up, I had tears running down my cheeks. Why? Because it was beautiful to see love like Clay and Amber's bloom as it did. REAL love, admiration, respect, etc. I found Amber to be the kind of young woman I would love to have as a good friend in my own life. Not only is she a "pretty girl" on the outside, she is very believable as a "real girl" just like you or me. Clay lives up to his name - kind of a "stick in the mud (clay)", but I could really relate to his inner pain. I felt much compassion and respect for him. In our modern culture, would love to see and hear from more men who are like Clay. I believe that they are out there! This movie addresses sex, marriage, playing the field, God, and taking chances. It is not preachy at all but it delivers the moral message we can all use. And at the end of the film, I started to clap, and then the entire theater joined with me! I want to see more movie like this made and distributed. It was worth the $10 ticket. I plan on buying the DVD when it is released. Parents, have your teens watch this movie; single ladies and men - go see this movie; dating couples - go see this movie; married folk - go see this movie. Do yourself a favor and forget about that other "love" move being so heavily promoted (50 Shades) and go see Old Fashioned instead!