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Created Apr 25, 2011 09:29AM PST • Edited Apr 25, 2011 09:29AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   Veteran actors Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn star in the romantic drama Lovely, Still about a pair of elderly folks who fall in love over the Christmas holidays.

   Landau plays Robert, an 80-something year old man who works at a local supermarket. When he meets Mary (Burstyn), they quickly become enamored of each other, giddy with the prospect of newfound romance. Having apparently been out of the dating scene for some time, Robert is thrilled to share his life with someone as enrapturing as Mary. Set against the Christmas imagery and music one would normally associate with the Hallmark Channel, it appears to be a sweet and harmless story, until the final unsettling 20 minutes.

   The movie is simple, and does not demand a lot from its viewer, although it also paints a somewhat negative view of seniors in love. The age-related dilemmas faced by the stars may be real, but only serve to distract from a sweet love story. The ending caught me off guard, and given its abruptness, left me unsettled,

   This was an OK movie that will appeal to those who like love storys or can relate to older adults dating.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Landau and Burstyn carry the movie, proving they still have the charisma and appeal that made them so successful. Their onscreen chemistry is touching.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction OK 2.5

    I’m not sure what Nicholas Facler was trying to do in this film. If his intent was to create a sweet holiday film, it fell a bit short. If it was to focus on seniors in love, it didn’t need to highlight some of the challenges they face. And then ending’s timing left me questioning everything I had seen. Perplexing to say the least.

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.3

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.5

19. Rudeness Polite 1.5

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0