SENIOR MOMENT, directed in a sit-com style by Giorgio Serafini, with a cast of well-honored TV and Film stars including Christopher Lloyd, William Shatner, Jean Smart and Esai Morales, would seem to have the makings of a strong entry into the ‘Rom-Com subcategory of ’40 plus.’ Alas. what you get is not so great but it’s not a horrible film either. It’s that ‘bland’ type of movie that often gets described as ‘just okay’ or ‘nice.’
Senior Moment PosterStar Trek’s William Shatner, who is 90, has perfected playing the ‘not so suave as he thinks’ senior Romeo. With Victor Martin, he is playing one once again.
Jean Smart, always likeable in DESIGNING WOMAN and gifted with a great sense of timing, is once again feisty and likeable as Caroline Summers in SENIOR MOMENT.
Christopher Lloyd at 82 is, well, Christopher Lloyd. This time he is playing Sal Spinelli, Victor’s best bud, who is a bit unhinged, off-kilter and funny.
With his seductive voice and sensual presence, Esai Morales can still turn up the heat, even in the desert, with his role of Diego Lozana.
So, what went wrong?
Unfortunately, even this talented cast could not overcome the highly predictable story which feels more like an underwritten sitcom episode than a film. With no twists or surprises, the story goes along until reaching its obvious conclusion 92 minutes later.
Victor Martin is a retired test pilot now living in Palm Springs. Along with his best pal Sal, he likes nothing more than tooling around town in his cherished Porsche sportscar. The film, by the way, was shot in Palm Springs and you will probably recognize many of the locations. But back to Victor and Sal. When Victor loses his license for reckless driving and gets his car impounded, he is forced to (oh the horrors of it) take the bus! But every cloud has a silver lining for he meets Caroline on the bus and is immediately turning the flirt on high. Things seem to be going well until Victor catches Caroline in an apparently compromising situation with the younger Diego. Victor confronts her about it and she is so incensed at his spying on her that she breaks off the relationship right there and then. But remember, this is a Rom-Com, which means that Victor not only gets his license and car back but Caroline as well. You see Diego is gay and the whole thing was a big misunderstanding on Victor’s part. Fade out on the senior lovebirds zipping off into the sunset in that sporty Porsche.
See what I mean? No real twists or variations on the themes here. It is all predictable and worse yet, not all that funny. A few gags score but for the most part the humor is tepid and, at best, rates a weak smile. Imagine what this cast could deliver given a slightly more challenging and original script.