The Leisure Seeker (2018)

Beautiful, moving film.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

When I saw this film recently listed on Netflix, it sounded like a cute roadtrip movie. After all, in the summary, it says "They recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the very end." . What I did not realize was that the film is all about death, Alzheimers and assisted suicide. Because of this, you really should be aware that this is NOT a comedy but a very dark film....very dark indeed. It's also very painful to watch...so beware! When the story begins, an elderly couple unexpectedly leaves their home. Their son and daughter are at wits end...and you really wonder why they and the neighbor are so upset at their leaving. The scene then switches to the old folks, John and Ella Spencer (Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren) and they're on a road trip in a very old RV...and for much of the time the film seems quirky and charming. However, after a bit you realize that John has severe dementia and later you realize that Ella is dying. What's next? Well, it sure won't be pleasant!!This is a great example of a very well acted film which I doubt most folks would really want to see. After all, talking about our mortality isn't exactly a crowd pleaser! Plus, some elements of the story might offend many and a few pieces didn't make a lot of sense (such as both nursing home portions)....but that's something you'd need to see for yourself. So, the bottom line is that you might wanna think twice about seeing this one...even if it is very well made. And, if you do see it, try to see it with someone and please take care of yourself...watching the film can be very difficult emotionally. By the way, the title "Leisure Seeker" is a reference to the name they've given the old RV.

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

(I am not a semi-professional reviewer) My wife and I could not figure out who the audience might be for this. We concluded folks 20-40 would be bored to tears and Seniors might feel it was a little close to home. We were both certain this could never turn a profit (but who knows?). Perhaps it could be marketed as a sensitivity training film for health care providers/workers. It did get the message across that two old folks with major health issues might have frightening and complicated consequences.

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.