'THE LEISURE SEEKER': Three Stars (Out of Five)
A comedy-drama about an elderly couple, suffering from Alzheimer's and cancer, that decide to go on one more road trip together, in their RV that they call 'The Leisure Seeker'. The film stars Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren, in their first costarring roles since 1990's 'BETHUNE: THE MAKING OF A HERO' (in which they also played a married couple). It was directed by Paolo Virzì (in his first full English language film), and it was scripted by Virzì, Francesca Archibugi, Francesco Piccolo and Stephen Amido (based on the 2009 novel of the same name, by Michael Zadoorian). The movie has received mostly negative reviews from critics so far, and it's also gotten a limited indie theatrical release at the Box Office. I found it to be mildly amusing at times, and touching, but it's also ultimately predictable and a little cheesy.
Ella Spencer (Mirren) is sick with cancer, and her husband John (Sutherland) has Alzheimer's. They know their time is coming to an end soon, so they decide to go on one last road trip together. They take their vintage RV, which they call 'The Leisure Seeker', from their home in Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home, in Key West. Along the way they have some special moments together, one last time.
The movie is definitely highlighted by Mirren and Sutherland's performances, and their great chemistry together. They really do seem like a genuine couple that's been together forever. I can see why older people would enjoy the film, and I definitely liked parts of it. Other parts are pretty silly though, and the movie at times even feels more like a sitcom than a serious drama. The film is also really predictable, and not really that memorable. It's decently made though, and enjoyable to an extent at least.
A comedy-drama about an elderly couple, suffering from Alzheimer's and cancer, that decide to go on one more road trip together, in their RV that they call 'The Leisure Seeker'. The film stars Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren, in their first costarring roles since 1990's 'BETHUNE: THE MAKING OF A HERO' (in which they also played a married couple). It was directed by Paolo Virzì (in his first full English language film), and it was scripted by Virzì, Francesca Archibugi, Francesco Piccolo and Stephen Amido (based on the 2009 novel of the same name, by Michael Zadoorian). The movie has received mostly negative reviews from critics so far, and it's also gotten a limited indie theatrical release at the Box Office. I found it to be mildly amusing at times, and touching, but it's also ultimately predictable and a little cheesy.
Ella Spencer (Mirren) is sick with cancer, and her husband John (Sutherland) has Alzheimer's. They know their time is coming to an end soon, so they decide to go on one last road trip together. They take their vintage RV, which they call 'The Leisure Seeker', from their home in Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home, in Key West. Along the way they have some special moments together, one last time.
The movie is definitely highlighted by Mirren and Sutherland's performances, and their great chemistry together. They really do seem like a genuine couple that's been together forever. I can see why older people would enjoy the film, and I definitely liked parts of it. Other parts are pretty silly though, and the movie at times even feels more like a sitcom than a serious drama. The film is also really predictable, and not really that memorable. It's decently made though, and enjoyable to an extent at least.