How About You... (2007)

Why so much hype?

The Worst Film Ever

Memorable, crazy movie

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This was an enjoyable story. I get it...the plot direction and outcome, but the editing and rapid ending left me with the feeling that about ten minutes of tying up story lines was left out. The final scene was a mess. In the scene prior, it's snowing, freezing and cold outside at Christmas, then in the final scene, the nursing home owner returns home and its Suddenly SPRING but with orange colored leaves...suggesting Fall to our visual cues. The editing choices describing the time span were peculiar. The film leaves us with the assumption that the home was "saved", more clients arrived who liked living there, and equilibrium returned. Another question unanswered was how did the paintings and drawings arrive at the Pub? So much energy was devoted on two or three occasions to find out where Redgrave's character wandered off to. Why wouldn't she just tell someone she's gone to the Pub? The actors delivered, but I'll have to go to the book for an understanding of what went on at the end. The answers are no doubt on some cutting room floor.

Interesting title, I don't know if the short story it is derived from started this way, but for the movie we hear the old Sinatra recording "How About You".The story is set in Ireland, a single lady has used her inheritance to buy her home with a larger "retirement home" building next to it. She has perhaps a dozen or so residents, older men and women who can get along fine but prefer living there to living on their own. They each have a private room, and there is a large common room for dining and relaxation.The "problem", as it were, are a nucleus of 4 residents who virtually never leave the premises and who also have become jaded to the point where they make other residents unhappy. Some residents have actually left because of these and it seems that the retirement home is barely making enough money to stay in business. If it closes down, the 4 may not be accepted anywhere else.Hayley Atwell is Ellie Harris, the younger sister of the retirement home owner. She has come to ask her sister for a place to stay, and a job, so that she can save enough money to take a long trip with her boyfriend and others. Ellie has some rough edges, is young and impetuous, but when their mother becomes ill and her sister has to leave right before Christmas, Ellie is pressed into service and put in charge. All the other residents left to visit friends and relatives for the holidays, but the 4 grumpy residents remained for Ellie to deal with, which was quite a handful.A nice, smaller movie, a good diversion on a Friday night and reasonably good entertainment.SPOILERS: After a couple of days of dealing with the crotchety 4, and trying to accommodate their whims, Ellie gets fed up and reads them the riot act. She points out how difficult they are, how they might cause the home to be closed down, and all that results in a renewed "family" atmosphere.

I very much enjoyed this film and found it excellent. I would have preferred if the ending were better. Ellie was completely left out- there was no mention to her returning sister all the good that she did, and how Ellie was able to bring together all the folks in the nursing home- nor was it mentioned about the inspector and how they were able to win him over. It wasn't even mentioned if Ellie would return and even the Old folks never said goodbye to her. I found it a riot that Ellie supplied marijuana and marijuana spiked goodies to the nursing home folks. I loved how she assisted the dying woman earlier in the movie and was very moved by the scene by the river where she smoked weed with this kind elderly lady- and this woman opened up to her and was able to have a last moment of peace and insight before dying. Very insightful film and has depth and speaks of the human spirit and love

Greetings again from the darkness. Based on a short story by Maeve Binchy, this film is prevented from going too deeply thanks to the TV direction of Anthony Byrne. This one really has the feel and pace of a Hallmark Movie of the Week ... only with a really nice cast.Hayley Atwell (The Duchess) plays Elle, the black sheep of the family, who shows up unannounced at the private retirement center her big sis owns. The home is struggling due to the rude behavior exhibited by four of the residents played by Brenda Fricker and Imelda Staunton (as sisters), Vanessa Redgrave (a former performer who longs for the spotlight again) and grumpy, lonely widower Joss Ackland (from the EverReady Bunny commercials, and for his line "Diplomatic Immunity" in Lethal Weapon 2). These four don't much like each other and certainly don't care for any others. Until ... you guessed it ... Elle reminds them what living is all about.Must also mention a terrific supporting turn by Joan O'Hara, who brings a little wisdom and a twinkle in the eye to Elle. Sadly Ms. O'Hara passed not long after filming. I really thought Ms. Staunton stood out for her interesting portrayal of the co-dependent sister with a dark family secret. Well, at least it is dark for this film, which again, just doesn't dig too deeply into anything.A message film with the simple message that loneliness should be avoided and don't stop living until you have taken your last breath. The title song is played at least 3 different ways in the film.