I'll See You In My Dreams--movie

I’ll See You In My Dreams—directed by Brett Haley, starring Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott, Malin Akerman June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place, screenplay written by Brett Haley, Marc Basch, 1hr35min, rated PG-13

Bifocal Reviews by Ageless1der Barbara Rich & The Other Guy

(BR) This film particularly appealed to me because—I can’t believe I’m saying this—I am a senior. I will draw from this, some of the many gems that make the senior years golden, keeping current, having friends, letting go of the past, and treasuring life to the utmost. The spirits ran high for all these great characters, especially the women, supplied in this film. They were up for almost anything. As said so many times before: It’s not the years in your life, but the life in your years that matter. Kudos to all the cast for a great job, and a high five to Brett Haley for both directing and writing this keen insight into senior living. The added bonus, Sam Elliot is still such a hunk-of-hubba-hubba. If I had to pick one special scene, however, it was all the women walking home from the market with a cart full of munchies, after imbibing in some “California Gold” of their own…otherwise known as medical marijuana. This was too funny. I give it three and one half binoculars out of five. It’s not a blockbuster, but totally entertaining.

(OG) What an incredible cast! You really get to see how casting is often the difference between failure and success in filmmaking. Whoever convinced all these wonderful elder actors to appear in the same, clever, senior-tale really struck it rich. Besides Danner and Starr (not a senior, but perfect for his role), each character had at least one memorable line that was expertly delivered. This was a smart, and funny, and sad, and poignant look at how living in the present is vitally important at any age.

This film earns four out of five binoculars from me, but I won’t be surprised if the awards season is sprinkled with a patina of silver-grey hair.