The film revolves around a retirement home where retired musicians go to spend the rest of their days. However they face a battle each year to keep the home open and perform an annual gala to raise the funds. The home gets a surprise new resident in the name of Jean Horton (Maggie Smith), the once world famous opera singer. Her arrival unsettles a few feathers with her diva ways and the reunion with former husband Reignald Paget (Tom Courtenay) who also happens to be a resident at the home. The gala hits problems and with ticket sales slow it is put forward that the famous opera quartet of Paget, Bond, Cissy Robson (Pauline Collins) and Horton perform their famous musical number Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ . Troubled relationships and problems forgetting the past mean this proposed reunion is not, at least at first, an harmonious prospect for all.
The charismatic Wilf Bond, played by the excellent Billy Connolly, brings a cheeky but harmless humour to the movie with sexual innuendos galore throughout. Michael Gambon is superb as the arrogant director of the gala and fellow resident, Cederic Livingston, a pain in the backside to all who live at the home. Cissy Robison is the sweetheart of the house, but is clearly starting to lose her memory at a rapid rate, whilst Reignald Paget plays the more serious, yet fragile, member of the quartet. Clearly still hurting from his relationship with Horton, Paget learns to let go of the past, as does Horton herself, who finds it especially hard to accept her status as a retiree.
This is not your typical retirement home and nor is it your typical mature comedy. It may be an old folks home, but its residents still exude youthful energy and charisma that is contagious. The movie is a charming, yet quirky, piece of cinema that will surprise you. You will enjoy it more than you think. I certainly did.
7/10.
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