The dog dies in the first three minutes. You need to know this because: 1) this is what qualifies for conflict in this film and 2) why would you kill off the family dog in the first three minutes?!
Carol (Blythe Danner) has been a widower for decades. The dog was her life. Without the dog, one wonders why she sets the clock alarm. What sense does that make? Sleep in, woman. Discovering the most adorable rodent problem ever, a solitary –clearly domesticated— black rat traipsing across the living room, Carol is forced outdoors for the night where, the following morning, she meets the pool guy, Lloyd (Martin Starr).
Oh yeah. Pool guy. Single woman. Bow-chicka-bow-bow. Wait. What the heck is this? Talking? Feelings? Loneliness? Worst.Porn.Ever. Sorry. Just … pool guy. Seriously. You gave a young man the job title of pool cleaner, you show him making the rounds and specifically coming to the aid of a lonely woman, and there’s a camera on it. What is anyone my age supposed to think?
Of course, loneliness is the key word. Carol is now willing to look beyond her bridge partners for a smile. She even gets talked into speed dating. Martin Starr constantly looks like he’s just been left at prom. The two find mild joy together in karaoke.
Enter the Alpha, Bill (Sam Elliott). Ah, here comes the plot, right? Expertertly groomed to intimidate all others, white-stached Bill is the Alpha’s Alpha. A strict contrast to Lloyd, there is not even a hint of insecurity on his person. This is the kind of guy you want to be; he says one sentence to a woman and her posse chitters about it for a week. He’s the guy who can live in a retirement community and boldly announce, “I don’t play golf” without a single soul questioning. In his first six scenes (I counted), he is sucking on an unlit cigar without fail. Why? Dunno. Carol is attracted, but still hesitant. She does like his company, and that’s great, but it’s now an hour into I’ll See You in My Dreams and all the film has said is, “sometimes a man can make a decent substitute for a dog.”
And that’s the film is going to say. Right when the slightest hint of a love triangle emerges, it is squashed with a huge cinematic cop out. God
forbid we suggest the mother of Gwyneth Paltrow flipping beds between a senior and a junior. God forbid we even hint that she and Martin Starr could have a physical relationship. Film … why not? Seriously. Why … not?
It was nice to see a big fat role for Martin Starr, by the way. Did you ever notice how much better the Freaks (Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, James Franco) made out career-wise versus the Geeks (Starr, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine). And Linda Cardellini, who proved something of either on the show, has, fittingly, a career in between the two. But I digress.
This is the second film I’ve seen this week (Brooklyn) in which a solo heroine project had issues finding … issues. While a film like this appeals to a certain category of movie goer who loathes conflict, it speaks to a very passive and timid form of screenwriting. On top of that, I think it’s degrading to femininity in general – are women just China cups that have to be handled with care? We know that’s not true. We’ve seen blockbusters in the past two months no less where aggressive women handle crossbows and blasters to deal with conflict. Now, I don’t think that’s necessary, either. There can be a middle ground, can’t there?
I like Blythe Danner. I like that she got a vehicle. As the senior set goes, however, I’m much happier with the film Lily Tomlin gave us in 2015. Bluntly put, I’ll See You in My Dreams is both amiable and watchable, but like Brooklyn, it didn’t have the balls to be a great film.
Widower Carol has now lost her dog
Lack of companionship puts life in a fog
How about some chaps?
Ye- N- Well, perhaps
I like ‘em more daring on steelfrogblog
Rated PG-13, 92 Minutes
D: Brett Haley
W: Marc Basch, Brett Haley
Genre: Love triangle line segment point, less the love
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Matriarchal widowers
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Teens
