Movie Review: Young @ Heart

 

We could review Iron Man, but you've already seen it.

We could review Made of Honor, but we haven't enough invective. (Diahan says that I should link to the meaning of invective. Please look up, then come back.)

       

We could also likely guarantee that you haven't seen the movie we will review.

Which is a shame, really, because it is one of the most delightful movies we've seen in many moons.

It's a feel good movie that actually makes you feel good. (Most don't work well on us. Some say we are too critical. We think they're wrong and let me tell you why . . . )

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It's a shame how self-consciousness robs so many of us of prime living time. As evidenced by our kids' love of life, we certainly aren't born with a worry of what others may think.

Only much later in life do we figure out that no one really cares. Even if we say now that we know no one really cares, we still live like they do.

In fact, they would have cared if only we were a bit more expressive and outgoing.

These pearls of wisdom aren't merely taken from recent fortune cookies, or as a reflection from an inspiring movie,  but from my job.

I work with senior citizens every day, from helping with finances to listening to stories about bombing runs over Germany. It is the most satisfying job I've ever had - precisely because of those I work with (or with whom I work, if you prefer).

With every afternoon I spend in a dusty living room, I walk away marveling at life lessons learned (not by me, of course). Invariably, one of those lessons is to live without fear.

Life's too short, they say.

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Young @ Heart follows the seven weeks of life and rehearsing before The Big Concert.

Young @ Heart is also the name of the Massachusetts chorus started in 1982 and performing at the upcoming concert.

The average age of chorus members is 80. The average age of songs sung by the chorus: much, much younger.

In other words, they're rocking!

Coldplay, The Clash, Sting, Bee Gees, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, James Brown, Pink Floyd. All of them never sounded so good.

You might think it akin to one of those condescending "lighter side" segments on Good Morning America, but it is much deeper than that.

The music is really only the vehicle for us to get to know these individuals and really care for them. And then we wish that we would be as brave someday.

To be sure, it is a documentary. And as a good documentary shows, real life is much more exciting anyway.

It is not forced or cliched. To the contrary, its honesty is arresting and endearing.

Do yourself a favor and rent this one ASAP. You may just get the urge to take yourself a little less seriously. Just like our 3 year old and just like great grandma.

And being like them is always a good thing.

(And please don't rent Made of Honor.)