As a Gen X, I'm enjoying the nostalgia of seeing these authentic 70s scenes, outfits, cars, etc. The premise of this story is promising, yet delivered in a pretty unacceptable way.
First, these folks are in their early 50s - why are they being portrayed as at the ends of their lives? I realize 50 was "over the hill" at that time but my goodness. I'm 56 and feel and act a lot "younger" than these folks are portrayed. I agree with other reviewers that the whole "I'm married" story is not dealt with very well. Like, please explain it to us, the viewers! I understand the whole desire to live for today and everything, but it seems quite unfair to the wife, whoever or wherever she is. It seems a cop out to leave it to our imagination. The two in the story I guess we're supposed to believe they just don't care, and that's not so much living for today as being selfish. Is the wife sad? Sitting at home with dinner waiting? I couldn't help thinking of her.
The ending - really? At 50? Is this realistic? It's not like this woman is 80 or 90 for goodness' sake! Oh, and the oddly placed singing as if it's a musical is weird. Is it a musical, or is it not? It would be much less jarring if they were being portrayed as actually singing to themselves or performing, not as if it's a musical. And more inside the Stardust. I want to see more of what actually goes on at the Stardust since that's the title of the movie. I agree also they could have included some really awesome music, but the music is nondescript. I guess they didn't have the money for the rights or something.
The whole story - while maybe at the time it was new - is very cliche. Older (Boomer) woman rediscovers herself when spouse dies, finds that being married was rather stifling although she felt content at the time, some of her children and friends don't like the new her and want her to stay the same but there is one who is supportive. I wish this movie had been more imaginative (as in less cliche), but not with the odd singing. The characters are all caricatures that we've seen before. And the mail carrier's character is not fleshed out. This is a guy who normally apparently can't get ladies to dance with him, he lies when he says he's just looking for friendship but he's obviously on "the make", he's married and never said so - why on earth is she attracted to him? I don't see it - he can dance and he quotes literary works but what else is there about him? She says "he is a good man." Really?
I don't understand how she gets to be Queen - from what little they've shown us from inside the Stardust, she doesn't compare with the current Queen who arranges events and contests, welcomes newcomers and is friendly and outgoing to all. I'm not sure at all that she'd be very good at the job. I also don't understand in the middle of the film how they come in third in a dance competition because they are not that good compared to the other dancers we see.
I'm not knocking old movies, I love a lot of old movies and classics, but sorry, a classic this is not. It's just . . . Depressing.
First, these folks are in their early 50s - why are they being portrayed as at the ends of their lives? I realize 50 was "over the hill" at that time but my goodness. I'm 56 and feel and act a lot "younger" than these folks are portrayed. I agree with other reviewers that the whole "I'm married" story is not dealt with very well. Like, please explain it to us, the viewers! I understand the whole desire to live for today and everything, but it seems quite unfair to the wife, whoever or wherever she is. It seems a cop out to leave it to our imagination. The two in the story I guess we're supposed to believe they just don't care, and that's not so much living for today as being selfish. Is the wife sad? Sitting at home with dinner waiting? I couldn't help thinking of her.
The ending - really? At 50? Is this realistic? It's not like this woman is 80 or 90 for goodness' sake! Oh, and the oddly placed singing as if it's a musical is weird. Is it a musical, or is it not? It would be much less jarring if they were being portrayed as actually singing to themselves or performing, not as if it's a musical. And more inside the Stardust. I want to see more of what actually goes on at the Stardust since that's the title of the movie. I agree also they could have included some really awesome music, but the music is nondescript. I guess they didn't have the money for the rights or something.
The whole story - while maybe at the time it was new - is very cliche. Older (Boomer) woman rediscovers herself when spouse dies, finds that being married was rather stifling although she felt content at the time, some of her children and friends don't like the new her and want her to stay the same but there is one who is supportive. I wish this movie had been more imaginative (as in less cliche), but not with the odd singing. The characters are all caricatures that we've seen before. And the mail carrier's character is not fleshed out. This is a guy who normally apparently can't get ladies to dance with him, he lies when he says he's just looking for friendship but he's obviously on "the make", he's married and never said so - why on earth is she attracted to him? I don't see it - he can dance and he quotes literary works but what else is there about him? She says "he is a good man." Really?
I don't understand how she gets to be Queen - from what little they've shown us from inside the Stardust, she doesn't compare with the current Queen who arranges events and contests, welcomes newcomers and is friendly and outgoing to all. I'm not sure at all that she'd be very good at the job. I also don't understand in the middle of the film how they come in third in a dance competition because they are not that good compared to the other dancers we see.
I'm not knocking old movies, I love a lot of old movies and classics, but sorry, a classic this is not. It's just . . . Depressing.