its what it isn't that makes this film great
Added 11/15/2009
This isn't a movie about old people in a nursing home being sparked back to life by the edgy young person who reminds them what it means to be young- and thank goodness for that!
All the traditional ingredients are here for just that film, but this movie does something different- it lets old people be old people. The "edgy young person" doesn't get them to embrace life by reminding them what it is to be young, she does it by pointing out to them that they are awful human beings and to recognize the humanity in each other,and in her.
This is a gem of a movie and its only real weakness is that the end comes up on you a bit suddenly. Solid acting, inspiring, and with a good moral- fine for families as it only has a bit of rough language and most of that not of a variety that would bother American ears.
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How About You
Added 8/29/2009
I really enjoyed this movie. They could delete the terrible crude words, but on ClearPlay it deletes them for me!! I love Vanessa Redgrave and the other actors. It really has a good story, and many messages. I highly recommend it...but with deleted swear words. It is so sad that the film industry thinks that these words enhance the script...they only turn people off.
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How About You is a GREAT movie
Added 8/27/2009
my daughter & daughter-in-law saved this to watch together when we all got together in Myrtle Beach- I had recommended it- they LOVED it- they like elderly people so they enjoyed seeing Vanessa Redgrave & the rest of the cast as they turned things around & started to get along with each other- if the whole world could do this- wouldn't it be great?
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Count me in
Added 6/5/2009
Good story with interesting, well-acted characters. Set around the holidays, the performances are strong enough you don't think of it as a Christmas movie. In the beginning, as the plot and character stories develop, its a bit slow; but as the bickering morphs into camaraderie the tempo quickens and the ending wraps-up quickly and makes it all worthwhile. Better than average fare.
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a rather good film--even if it is a bit too sugary sweet
Added 5/27/2009
How About You has the feel of a Hallmark movie; and that can be either good or bad. On the bright side, it's got terrific acting and the plot moves along fairly well. The cinematography and the choreography are very professionally done; and the casting is great. On the downside, it feels somewhat sugary-sweet and predictable; and that did disappointment me a little.
When the film starts, we meet Kate Harris (Orla Brady) who runs Woodlane, a home in rural Ireland for people who are elderly and wealthy enough to pay for some pretty nice accommodations and quality care. Unfortunately, as hard as Kate works, there are four residents in particular who are so obstreperous that staff have been going and coming like crazy: these people are former actress and star Georgia Platts (Vanessa Redgrave), Donald Vanston (Joss Ackland) and the somewhat younger sisters Hazel and Heather Nightingale (Imelda Staunton and Brenda Fricker). Kate even gets warnings from her colleagues that she got to find staff who will stay despite the behavior of these residents; and things only worsen when Kate's dropout and somewhat whimsical younger sister Ellie (Hayley Atwell) comes to Kate to ask for work.
At first Kate refuses to give Ellie a job; but Kate does need extra staff and so she relents. And, predictably, Ellie keeps annoying the remaining staff by coming in at all hours of the night and sleeping way past breakfast time--this leaves the morning nurse alone for a huge and demanding breakfast crowd. Moreover, Ellie is caught giving marijuana to Alice (Joan O'Hara), a dying resident who wants some relief from her emotional and physical pain. Ellie has a heart of gold, really, but Kate is so caught up in the rules that Kate just can't see it.
When their mother has a sudden stroke, Kate and Ellie have a crisis. Someone must go to be with their mother; and Kate insists on going without any advance notice to Ellie. This means Ellie will be all on her own for Christmas with the four most difficult residents who ever graced Woodlane.
Of course, the plot can go anywhere from here. Is Kate able to trust Ellie or does she bring in more help? What about Georgia, Donald, Hazel and Heather--they are bound to test Ellie something awful; how will Ellie stand up to their testing her? At first Ellie complies; but how long will it be before there's a nasty confrontation? And why is it that Heather won't allow Hazel to ever read their mail? Watch and find out!
How About You features great acting and the artistry is very well done; but the sugary sweet aftertaste is definitely a bit too sugary sweet to completely satisfy me. However, if you want a "feel-good" movie; this would be a great choice. It's relatively lighthearted and there's nothing wrong with that. I also recommend this for fans of the actors in this movie.
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