Awesome Movie

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Saw this beautiful little film. In the beginning I saw a woman with her dog on the bed. Then I find out that dog is sick and has to be put to sleep so I was thinking where this movie is going? Then suddenly I was engaged into the story of this older woman who is living a retired life and she just takes it, what life brings to her. It was actually very interesting and I could relate to it because I have a friend Julie who had a dog as her best friend for years and then she had to put her to sleep because her dog got really old and could not walk anymore. Danning then meets this guy who comes to clean her pool. It was so interesting to see that they just did not fall in love. It was a platonic relationship and they just enjoyed this friendship on this journey of life. Not every man which comes in her life is going to be her boyfriend. We meet people along the way and we give them chances and thats what I liked about this film. Its so simple story and so beautifully told and so close to life. This character just takes what life gives it to her and she is content with it. Danning gave a great performance and the pool guy was a good actor. I liked the daughter with her innocent face and acting skills. The scene where mother and daughter talk after such a long time made me cry.

There's really not much to be said about this little movie because it's just fine. It looks like a TV movie with adequate acting by each person and a simple story that will maintain your attention start to finish.Director: Brett Haley and Writers: Marc Basch, Brett Haley have created a story of the main character Carol Petersen (Blythe Danner) living a settled and routine life in her elder years. Along comes a young man, Lloyd, that sees something in her he needs and that she can provide at that point in his life. Then along comes another man, Bill, who is closer to her age and she sees in him something she needs at that point in her life. What makes this story interesting is that exactly what these needs are is never really addressed. It's left up to the viewer to decide.Her friends encourage her and they discourage her. Carol must make her own decision about her life while dealing with a youthful man, an elderly man, and her friends making suggestions on what she should do.This flick is easy to follow and just might leave you guessing what Carol will do at stories end.

Carol Petersen (Blythe Danner) is a widow of 20 years and a retired singer in a band. She has a simple life and her circle of friends (June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, Mary Kay Place). They want her to move into the retirement community. Her dog dies of old age. She starts a friendship with the new pool guy Lloyd (Martin Starr). He's a poet graduate and living with his mother. Bill (Sam Elliott) is the new love in Carol's life. Her daughter Katherine (Malin Akerman) comes for a visit.A high June Squibb is hilarious. This is a rather light easy story. Blythe Danner is incredible. She encompasses every part of this movie. Her internal struggles even before she has them are all very effective. It's a quietly powerful performance.

If you can get past the scenes with Hazel the Labrador, chances are you'd quite enjoy this movie, if it's what you're expecting, it's a kind of coming of age (mature that is) film. What was the rat called 'Guinevere?'Carol, a widow, loses her dog, realises that life can take some unexpected turns, she tries speed dating, strikes up a friendship with her pool maintenance man Lloyd and begins pursuing a new romance with the charismatic and rather forward Bill.I truly like Blythe Danner, she's a fine actress, once again she is so likable, in this she's funny, warm and sincere. I loved her in the Speed dating scenes. Well supported by a great cast, Sam Elliot is really fun, he's so good, as is Martin Starr.There is actually some lovely humour too, her friends are great, the smoking scene was fun.It's a bit sombre in parts granted, but ultimately worth watching, beautifully acted and often touching. 7/10