We must confess, right at the start, we went to see this movie reluctantly. Judging by the trailers we saw prior to going to watch it, we didn't have much expectation, but we can categorically say we had a marvelous time watching, and laughing out loud, at this wonderful Susan Seidelman's picture that really deserves to be seen by a wider audience.
We are taken to that senior's paradise that is Florida. Unfortunately, the most careful planning doesn't include death, something that is a sad reality a few of the principals in the movie have to deal with. Most of the people that transfer to that state after their retirement buy all these fabulous places after being in the Northern parts of the country, running away from the cold and the harsh winters.
Marilyn, a happily married woman, experiences the horror of her husband being killed by a careless selfish neighbor, who obviously has no remorse, other than tell her problems to her shrink. Marilyn has to start to learn how to live alone, something she has not counted on. We see her walking to the Bereavement Center by herself, since she has no license to drive, while perhaps a lot of her neighbors, in her possibly "gated community" zip by in their cars.
Then there is Jack, a recent widower. He is a pathetic man who has relied on his wife Phyllis for everything. Without her, he is condemned to eating at the ubiquitous diners all over the place where seniors get discounts before a certain hour, perhaps before 5pm! When he meets the bold Sandy, he is doubtful he will ever again find love with another woman.
Harry, on the other hand, is a party animal. In spite of thinking he is a sophisticated man, he falls for a woman he meets on line that turns out too good to be true. Lois, a youthful looking woman, is knocked out of her "boots" by the hunky Donald, a man that is not all he appears to be, but in the end, turns out to be the right man for Lois, and vice versa.
Susan Seidelman supposedly based this film on personal experiences of relatives living in that environment. She adapted the material Florence Seidelman and David Cramer told her out of their own experiences into a film that bites deep into what how loneliness works when long time married people have to face an uncertain future. Even though it's a funny comedy, "Boynton Beach Bereavement Club" reveals under its glossy surface how hard it is to live in all these professionally decorated dream houses when a wife, or a husband is not around anymore. The surviving spouse must face that solitude head on.
The director got excellent acting from her ensemble players. All do a marvelous job. Brenda Vaccaro, who has not been seen a lot lately, gets a great opportunity as Marilyn. As her friend, and confidant, Dyan Cannon is wonderful. Sally Kellerman, has a couple of great moments as Sandy, the woman who has not come clean to the new man in her life. Len Cariou, who appears as Jack, makes an impression, as does Joseph Bologna, the party animal. Michael Nouri is Donald, the man who is not who Lois thinks he is. Renee Taylor appears briefly in the film.
Ms. Seidelman ought to be congratulated in the way she created all these characters that are real and reflect a section of the population that went through so much in their lives and when they thought the golden years were here to stay, must make a tremendous adjustment and learn to live again on their own.
We are taken to that senior's paradise that is Florida. Unfortunately, the most careful planning doesn't include death, something that is a sad reality a few of the principals in the movie have to deal with. Most of the people that transfer to that state after their retirement buy all these fabulous places after being in the Northern parts of the country, running away from the cold and the harsh winters.
Marilyn, a happily married woman, experiences the horror of her husband being killed by a careless selfish neighbor, who obviously has no remorse, other than tell her problems to her shrink. Marilyn has to start to learn how to live alone, something she has not counted on. We see her walking to the Bereavement Center by herself, since she has no license to drive, while perhaps a lot of her neighbors, in her possibly "gated community" zip by in their cars.
Then there is Jack, a recent widower. He is a pathetic man who has relied on his wife Phyllis for everything. Without her, he is condemned to eating at the ubiquitous diners all over the place where seniors get discounts before a certain hour, perhaps before 5pm! When he meets the bold Sandy, he is doubtful he will ever again find love with another woman.
Harry, on the other hand, is a party animal. In spite of thinking he is a sophisticated man, he falls for a woman he meets on line that turns out too good to be true. Lois, a youthful looking woman, is knocked out of her "boots" by the hunky Donald, a man that is not all he appears to be, but in the end, turns out to be the right man for Lois, and vice versa.
Susan Seidelman supposedly based this film on personal experiences of relatives living in that environment. She adapted the material Florence Seidelman and David Cramer told her out of their own experiences into a film that bites deep into what how loneliness works when long time married people have to face an uncertain future. Even though it's a funny comedy, "Boynton Beach Bereavement Club" reveals under its glossy surface how hard it is to live in all these professionally decorated dream houses when a wife, or a husband is not around anymore. The surviving spouse must face that solitude head on.
The director got excellent acting from her ensemble players. All do a marvelous job. Brenda Vaccaro, who has not been seen a lot lately, gets a great opportunity as Marilyn. As her friend, and confidant, Dyan Cannon is wonderful. Sally Kellerman, has a couple of great moments as Sandy, the woman who has not come clean to the new man in her life. Len Cariou, who appears as Jack, makes an impression, as does Joseph Bologna, the party animal. Michael Nouri is Donald, the man who is not who Lois thinks he is. Renee Taylor appears briefly in the film.
Ms. Seidelman ought to be congratulated in the way she created all these characters that are real and reflect a section of the population that went through so much in their lives and when they thought the golden years were here to stay, must make a tremendous adjustment and learn to live again on their own.