The Boyton Beach Club will not suit all tastes. Easy to enjoy, but difficult to rave about, it is well suited to those of a tranquil disposition who are easily amused by gently predictable humour. From director Susan Seidelmer (Desperately Seeking Susan), this is not a particularly ambitious project, but a simple story about the intriguing relationships that develop between a group of widowed senior citizens, united by their weekly participation in the Boyton Beach Club’s “bereavement group.” Here, the angsty Marilyn (Brenda Vaccaro) befriends the vivacious, lipo-suctioned Louis (Dyan Cannon), while the grieving Harry (Joseph Bologna) slowly re-enters the dating world with Sandy (Sally Kellermen). There is a certain spiritedness to these, and all, the relationships portrayed, enhanced by the fact that each of the actors’ injects their character with a significant dose of youthful energy.
Indeed, this film’s most endearing feature is the bizarre way in which it seems to, in many ways, mirror an American teen movie. There are social alliances, girly gossip sessions, first dates, penis jokes and “first time”-esque sexual anxieties, and there is even a prom at the end of it all. The unfortunate by-product of this, though, is the fact that the film manages to remain utterly devoid of any remotely poignant commentary about the aging process. Instead, it’s just another movie about twisted relationships and the difficulties involved in getting them up and running (in more ways than one, nudge nudge). Essentially, it’s a pretty empty film and, if it weren’t for the fact that there are no cast members under 55, it would instantly slide into obscurity. It’s one to file just above the irritatingly slow On a Clear Day, but quite a far way below the memorably effervescent (and actually genuinely touching) Calender Girls.
Rating: 5.5
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