This film was not funny. It's too slow moving, with too much air and malingering on weepy faces for that. All three laugh lines are in the trailer. The characters were not endearing. The dialogue was leaden. The acting was flat and hesitant, as if they were either going through their lines for the first time. At times is seemed like they might not even have had lines, and were just experimentally ad libbing their characters. Except, the dialogue they came up with was banal and ordinary to the point of embarrassment. The characters seemed awkward with each other, and in themselves. Mr. Cigarface, Bill, in addition to twiddling his prop cigar, projected character by having one eyebrow permanently, quizzically, cocked. With his walrus moustache, he came across a bit like chronically bemused Burt Reynolds, but worse. The cinematography at least made the film visually attractive at times.

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.

You see I am almost the same age as Blythe Danner so I have a really good appreciation for the themes in this movie.In real life Blythe Danner lost her husband Bruce Paltrow so she really has been and still is living the life of an older widow. In this movie she is Carol Petersen. She forms an unlikely friendship with the pool guy who is young enough to be her son. She sees him as a compatible friend, but he starts to see her as a possible love relationship. They both learn something.It isn't that unlikely because the actress in her early 70s is still quite graceful and good-looking, so when Bill (Sam Elliot) meets her it is easy to understand why he, seemingly a confirmed bachelor, is smitten.I would guess many of the younger crowd will (would) find this movie a bit boring but it really is a good examination of relationships once the "shine" has gone.A bonus, for me at least, was getting to see and hear Danner sing. It is not well known but early in life she became a trained vocalist and considered a career as a jazz singer before she settled on acting. She performs on stage in this movie and she really is good.

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