Too many fans seem to be blown away

Absolutely Fantastic

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The movie is nothing great. The book is much better at telling the sad story of an aging couple in the real world.

I eagerly watched this film recently with my wife, largely due to the two lead actors. My wife and I are both advancing in years and have a long term marriage of nearly 40 years so we have some commonality with the characters in the film. We were very disappointed. These characters were not even close to believable. I found the wife's character domineering, manipulative and selfish but presented as if she were caring and compassionate. The actions of the husband where totally unbelievable. Not even close to reality and he could not possibly function in the way he was presented. This wasn't fiction so much as disrespectful fantasy. I was staggered that two such fine actors could allow themselves to be placed in a film that, far from celebrating a couples life and love, simply worked to the current political agenda. I have seen other films treat similar themes with much more dignity and respect.

I have not read the book, maybe i should. This is the latest in what seems to be a growing mega trend of gray haired rom/coms for the afternoon retiree set. This one is American, and despite Brit legend Helen Mirren the movie lack's the finer tones of the more under stated British, the dialogue is often mechanical, obvious and very stilted, as is much of the situations. Donald Sutherland is left to carry the film which he pretty much does, he is marvellous, but then he always is, poor Helen Mirren on the other hand is perhaps simply miss cast, at any rate her fake accent had me cringing. Along the way you begin to forgive the films many many fault's, the film has a good heart, and you cannot help but warm to it's tender centre, the ending seem's miss guided or may be just bungled. At any rate i thought it a touch disappointing i just wanted and hoped that it would turn out a better journey than it finally was.

Saw this really good movie this week. Finally was able to find a showing of The Leisure Seeker. It's one of my very favorite books and the movie was pretty close to the book. Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland star in it. And do a superb job, both of them. It sounds like a depressing story, but it isn't. An old couple - she's dying of cancer and he is suffering from Alzheimer's to the extent that half the time he doesn't know where he is - or even who she is - climb into their old RV and head off across the country to see the ocean. I know. Sounds depressing and the story does move along pretty much as you might expect it to. But it's a heart-warming, touching book and film with some humor. I don't know. You just come to like these people and understand where they're coming from. Like I said, it's one of my all-time favorite books. When I'm at a used book sale and I find a copy, I hold it up, wave it around and ask any and all if they've read it and if they haven't they need to buy and read it. (I've managed to sell a lot of copies that way) I just want everyone to read it, it's that good. If you haven't read it, do so. If you haven't seen this film, do so. You don't have to be old to enjoy it. I went with someone much, much younger than I am, and they loved it. My recommendation? Go ahead - if you can find it. For some unknown and infuriating reason it was only shown in one theater in my entire area. But I bet you'll like it.