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★★
Directed by: Giorgio Serafini
Written by: Kurt Brungardt & Christopher Momenee
Starring: William Shatner, Jean Smart, Don McManus, Katrina Bowden, Christopher Lloyd
Film Review: by Taryll Baker
After drag racing his vintage convertible around Palm Springs, a retired NASA test pilot loses his license. Forced to take public transportation, he meets Caroline and learns to navigate love and life again.
Star Trek legend William Shatner stars in this frumpy romantic comedy about finding love in unexpected places. Starring alongside him is Christopher Lloyd, most recognisable as Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the Future; the two play men who are growing too old for the young life. After having his licence revoked due to drag racing, Victor (Shatner) is forced to get around by using public transport. It’s a lucky bus trip that puts him in front of Caroline (Jean Smart), a working woman who runs a café on the side of a road he drove down many times before. As they continue to meet, a friendship blossoms and an unlikely love begins to flourish.
Senior Moment doesn’t ask much of the viewer; it’s a very simple film with a pretty stable story and cast. What it does ask of you is to like the main character. Victor is kind of unlikeable. He’s sleazy, a reckless driver, goes after younger women, and all-around has a very bitter personality. Perhaps the film isn’t asking us to like him, but it’s hard to enjoy a film centred around someone who has all of these traits and doesn’t seem to evolve much. Shatner does a good enough job with the role, but he’s limited by a weak script and a character journey that doesn’t go very far beyond the start line. Lloyd plays his wacky friend Sal, who is with him through all his poor decisions and little hurdles he must overcome. Adding to the bunch is Smart, as a fairly energetic and charming Caroline; a hippie-like character who’s free-spirited and probably the only shining piece of the film.
In terms of production, Senior Moment has a sturdy look and feel thanks to the beautiful locations and score by Laura Karpman; who brings the traditional funk that seems to be utilised in most comedies these days. Featuring all these old talents in a film that promises laughs and feel-good moments, it seems as if nothing could go wrong. But unfortunately, there really isn’t much life in many of these characters and although it’s not expected that a romance be anything more than that, a romance, it was underwhelming to see a retread of something we’ve seen countless times before.
If you’re looking for some romance with a bite of comedy here and there, then Senior Moment will likely cater to your needs. It doesn’t hold much value beyond that, and like aforementioned, the main character doesn’t seem to budge from his sticky position at the start of the film. He saves a turtle, though… Sorry, a tortoise. Senior Moment is a bit of a moment for seniors. Some classic actors who are now old and sharing the screen together for possibly the last time. It plays to its audience, and that’s about it.
Senior Moment on digital 28 June 2021
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