Image courtesy of Samuel Goldwin Films			Boynton Beach Bereavement Club
Back in the day when Grumpy Old Men first came out, I remember laughing myself silly and wondering why no one else had tapped into comedies about senior citizens. No, I’m not referring to the stereotypical gags about geriatric body functions gone awry. I’m talking about seniors attempting to return to the days of their youth and finding out things have changed a little bit since then. In Boynton Beach Bereavement Club, director Susan Seidelman brings to the big screen a humorous story about seniors given a second chance at life in an adult community. The screenplay was written by Seidelman’s own mother, Florence, who based it upon similar experiences her friend Dave encountered after the death of his wife. Normally, when you think of an “adult community” the image of a nursing home full of geriatric invalids who smell like tinkle usually comes to mind. But, not in Boynton Beach. That’s where the elders who are wise beyond their years and too cynical to care constantly prove that “old age isn’t for sissies.” They rollerblade, they do water aerobics, and some even try their hand at online dating.
The movie centers on this odd assortment of active seniors residing in Boynton Beach who have come together through a local bereavement club in order to help them cope after the loss of a loved one, usually a spouse. What all of them have in common is learning how to start over in life and in love.	Image courtesy of Samuel Goldwin Films
In this club of grieving geriatrics you’ll find recently widowed Jack (Len Cariou), who is living on casseroles because he can’t cook, Harry (Joseph Bologna), the Don Juan of seniorsseekingseniors.com, Sandy (Sally Kellerman), who is husband hunting for the second time ‘round, Lois (Dyan Cannon) with her sexy wardrobe and flirtatious backtalk, Marilyn (Brenda Vaccaro), who’s husband was run over by a neighbor talking on her cell phone, and the elusive Donald (Michael Nouri) on his quest to win Lois’ heart. Boynton Beach Bereavement Club is a refreshing alternative to all of the other youth-driven romantic comedies being thrown at us. Seidelman, who directed the pilot for “Sex and the City,” brings a little of that flavor of HBO’s former comedy series with plenty of material about the sex lives of single seniors. However, unlike Carrie and the girls, in Boynton Beach the men have voices, too as they fumble around like teenagers, determine which of their pick-up lines is the most outdated, and rediscover who they really are. Obviously, the film has its share of predictable jokes about early-bird dinners, Viagra, and little old ladies behind the wheel. But, like Grumpy Old Men, it goes beyond the geriatric stereotypes and examines what happens when people faced with starting over are given the chance to recapture part of their youth before it completely fades away. Yet, the best thing about these crazy seniors is how Seidelman shot the film at her own mother’s adult community in Florida. By using Florence’s friends as extras, we get to see more than just the usual Hollywood crowd of twenty year-old party idiots.
Image courtesy of Samuel Goldwin Films		On second thought, those twentysomethings would have made the sex a lot easier to watch. When it came time for Hot Lips O’Houlihan’s nude scene…let’s just say that gravity hasn’t let things stay where they used to be. © Kelly Bartley 2006

Image courtesy of Samuel Goldwin Films