How About You - 2 smiles

“How About You” is a trivial and predictable tale about four crotchety senior citizens stuck in a residential home over the holidays. The one thing going for this adaptation of a Maeve Binchy short story is the cast of ‘experienced’ actors who chew their lines with gusto. Set in Ireland, the movie takes its title from a 1941 tune sung by Bobby Darin that begins, ‘I like New York in June.’ This is the favorite song of Georgia Platts (Vanessa Redgrave), a former showgirl who wears a turban and gives meticulous directions on how to fix the martinis she loves. The song eventually becomes a sing-along in an Irish pub and helps thaw the angry souls of Donald Vanston (Joss Ackland), a retired judge who demands his breakfast be served at 5:30 rather than the scheduled 8 am; and Heather and Hazel Nightingale (Brenda Fricker and Imelda Staunton), bickering spinster sisters who continually recycle family grievances. These four are the only residents of Woodlands, a residential home, who have not left for the Christmas holidays. While Kate (Orla Brady), the owner, is away, it is up to her younger sister Ellie (Hayley Atwell) to keep order. The four are spiteful and selfish and their bad behavior has driven away so many lodgers and staff that Woodlands’ existence is threatened. Of course, Ellie has the solution. If only it were that easy.

There’s little subtlety displayed in the predictably warming of curmudgeonly hearts. And seasons seem to change from scene to scene and other scenes probably ended up on the cutting room floor, resulting in haphazard storytelling. Still, if a feel-good pic is what you’re looking for, “How About You” should be high on your list. 12/14/08