Get ready to rock out with the most entertaining “golden oldies” you will ever meet, a fun-loving senior citizen’s choir called Young@Heart. To prepare for a show in their hometown that is only weeks away, the lovable seniors must learn a slate of new songs, ranging from James Brown to Coldplay. The chorus’ tireless musical director leads the group through a series of hilariously chaotic rehearsals, proving that hard rock can be hard work — especially when you’re hard of hearing! Climaxing in a triumphant performance that will leave you cheering, their inspiring story celebrates the unbreakable bonds of friendship and the life-affirming power of music! The questions start as soon as you know that Young@Heart is about a group of singing senior citizens as they prepare for and then perform a concert with a repertoire consisting of songs by the likes of Coldplay, Sonic Youth, and James Brown. Can this premise, basically a novelty, sustain itself for nearly two hours? Will the director give in to the temptation to make it schmaltzy and sentimental? Will we be laughing at these oldsters, or with them? The answers: yes, no, and a little of both. Directed by British filmmaker Stephen Walker, the 2007 film takes place primarily in Northampton, MA, home to the Young@Heart chorus, whose average age is 80. Most readily admit to preferring classical and musicals to the pop and rock given to them by music director Bob Cilman, and some of the tunes–Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia,” Allen Toussaint’s “Yes We Can Can” (once a hit for the Pointer Sisters), and Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)”–prove especially vexing. But the singers’ good natures and determination to master the material over some six weeks of rehearsals carry the day. Most of all, while they thoroughly enjoy themselves, it’s no joke to them, and thus not to us, either. Of course, folks this age are bound to have health issues; indeed, the specter of death hangs over the scene like a banshee, occasionally making itself right at home. But the chorus members’ insistence on carrying on in the wake of tragedy makes for a climactic concert that’s moving and powerful–Fred Knittle, who had withdrawn from the group due to heart issues but whose beautiful bass voice remains intact, returns for this one show to deliver a version of Coldplay’s “Fix You” that will bring a tear to the eye of the most flint-hearted cynic. Mixed in along the way are the group’s “videos” of songs like the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated” and David Bowie’s “Golden Years”; bonus features include deleted scenes and a brief featurette about Young@Heart’s gig in Los Angeles. –Sam Graham
Beyond Young @ Heart on DVD
 The Visitor on DVD |
 Once on DVD |
 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day on DVD |
Stills from Young @ Heart (Click for larger image)
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Buy “Young@Heart” For Only $8.46
January 16, 2006
#1
I could hardley get through the entire DVD. I thought it would be more entertaining, but was slow and uninteresting.
January 16, 2006
#2
Oldsters sing rock music. OK, great. After one or two songs, any comedic novelty wears off and the performances become tiresome.
It is good, though, to see how being part of this music group gives these elderly folks a reason to be engaged with life and have a renewed sense of purpose.
Average entertainment value, though…
January 16, 2006
#3
I was disappointed in the story. I had read the review of the title and it was a disappointment after viewing it.
January 16, 2006
#4
Maybe it’s because I am 72 years old. The music was definitely not music I would ever listen to. Maybe if they were doing tunes from the 40′s or 50′s I would have like it, I cannot say. I never got past the first 15 minutes or so. I say, read all the reviews, make up your mind, at least i got mine from the library and didn’t put out any money.
January 16, 2006
#5
I saw “Young @ Heart” in the theaters and I think the film crew wasn’t as great as they could’ve been. The music videos weren’t great and disrupted the flow of the movie. The interviews were pretty flat and there’s simple non-invasive ways of making the characters more interesting besides hanging out with them while driving.
The concert at the end was the high point of the film with its touching rendition of “Fix You”, but the rest of the documentary stayed within the too-safe confines of cute and unoffensive. I would’ve liked to have seen more of an emotional storyline throughout the film (like what was seen in the concert at the end of the film).