Senior Moment
| Senior Moment | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Giorgio Serafini |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Gina G. Goff |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Marco Cappetta |
| Edited by | Colleen Halsey |
| Music by | Laura Karpman |
Production company | Goff Productions |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Senior Momentis a 2021 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Giorgio Serafini and starringWilliam Shatner,Jean SmartandChristopher Lloyd.[1]
It was released on March 26, 2021, byChicken Soup for the Soul EntertainmentandScreen Media Films.
Plot
[edit]Victor Martin is a retiredAir Forcepilot and lifelongbachelorwho relives his youth cruising in his mint condition, silver, 1955Porsche 356,usually accompanied by his best friend, retiredjewelerSal Spinelli. Victor and Sal encounter Pablo Torres, driving avintageChevrolet Impalalowriderand challenge him to a friendly drag race. However, Pablo is aware that there is a cop hiding ahead, and proceeds within the speed limit, letting Victor get pulled over. The police officer recognizes Victor as a well known character in the community and lets him off with a stern warning.
On a subsequent evening, Victor and Sal encounter Pablo again and actually drag race. Victor loses control and spins out and is charged withreckless driving.His license is revoked and his Porsche impounded as a result.
Forced to ride the bus, Victor meets Caroline Summers who owns anorganiccafecalled the "Cuckoo Cafe" and heads agrassrootsorganization to save theendangereddesert tortoise.Victor particularly wins her heart when he and Sal, using Sal's expertise as a jeweler, repair a 19th centurycuckoo clock,a family heirloom of Caroline's, which had not functioned for years, but for which her Cafe is named.
Victor's relationship with Caroline is not without rough patches. Victor's worst faux-pas is accusing Caroline of having an affair with Diego Lozana, a successful painter. It turns out that Caroline spends a lot of time with him because he is the main benefactor of her charity to save the tortoise, and she has commissioned him to paint a partially nude portrait of her (which resulted in Victor seeing her in a state of undress in his presence). It turns out that Diego is gay and happily married to a man. Victor must humbly apologize to Caroline.
Victor, twice, believes he sees his Porsche being driven in the area, and with the help of Pablo, who has befriended him and feels somewhat responsible for Victor losing his car and license, catches the private security guard at the impound lot illegally renting it out. The excitement and anger of this discovery cause Victor to have aheart attackand Pablo drives him to the hospital in the Porsche. Theft charges for taking the Porsche from the impound lot are dropped due to the emergency of the heart attack.
Eventually, Victor passes the necessary written and behind the wheel tests to get his driver's license reinstated. He sells his Porsche to Pablo for far below its value as thanks for saving his life, and buys aBMW i8to replace it, and Sal is seen cruising in Pablo's lowrider, apparently having bought it.
Through their relationship, Victor develops a passion for saving the desert tortoise, and Caroline develops a guilty pleasure of riding in fast cars, despite herenvironmentalistleanings.
Cast
[edit]- William Shatneras Victor Martin - A retired pilot and sports car enthusiast.
- Jean Smartas Caroline Summers[2]- Environmentalist who runs an organization to save the desert tortoise and owns an organic cafe. Victor meets her when forced to ride the bus, and they begin a romantic relationship.
- Christopher Lloydas Sal Spinelli - Victor's best friend. A retired jeweler.
- Esai Moralesas Diego Lozana - A successful artist and primary benefactor of Caroline's charity. Victor falsely believes at one point that Caroline is having an affair with him.
- Don McManusas Rock Kendall - A sleazy attorney who Victor hires to help get his Driver's License back.
- Carlos Miranda as Pablo Torres - Victor's street racing rival and, later, good friend.
- Beth Littlefordas Assistant DA Tess Woodson - She prosecutes Victor for reckless driving. Victor learns that she has unfairly made the driving test considerably more difficult than it used to be.
- Katrina Bowdenas Kristen - A model who has posed with Victor's car in car magazine spreads. She and Victor share a close but innocent platonic friendship.
- Ephraim Lopez as Steve - Victor's neighbor that he gets to know and becomes friends with when his lifestyle is forced to slow down when he loses his drivers license.
- Kaye Ballard[2]
- Denise DuBarry[2]
- Kal Smith as Timmy
- "Hollywood" "Mr. Movies"Joe Estevez
Production
[edit]Shatner was cast in the film in March 2017.[3][4][5]Lloyd was cast in April 2017.[6][7]Smart and Lopez were cast in May 2017.[8]
The film was shot inPalm Springs, Californiain 2017.[9]
Release
[edit]In January 2021,Screen Media Filmsacquired worldwide distribution rights to the film, which was released in theaters and on demand in March 2021.[10][11]
Reception
[edit]OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has a 21% approval rating from critics based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10.[12]OnMetacritic,it has a weighted average score of 41 out of 100, based on reviews from 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]
Glenn Kenny ofThe New York Timeswrote: "This is the kind of movie that is usually defended with one word: 'harmless'."[14] Richard RoeperofChicago Sun-Timesgave it 2 out of 4 and wrote: "Built of sitcom-style hijinks and pretty light on those, it's barely a movie..."[15]
References
[edit]- ^Ritman, Alex (4 March 2021)."Berlin First Look: Christopher Lloyd and William Shatner in 'Senior Moment' (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved5 March2021.
- ^abcEvans, Patrick (24 February 2021)."Filmed locally," Senior Moment "finally set for Release".KESQ-TV.Retrieved25 February2021.
- ^Damaske, Damion (20 March 2017)."WILLIAM SHATNER STARRING IN ROM-COM SENIOR MOMENT".JoBlo.com.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^Baxter, Joseph (20 March 2017)."William Shatner to Lead Romantic Comedy Senior Moment".Den of Geek.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^McNary, Dave (20 March 2017)."William Shatner to Star in Romantic Comedy 'Senior Moment' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^Gross, Ed (12 April 2017)."William Shatner And Christopher Lloyd Reteaming For Senior Moment".Empire.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^McNary, Dave (11 April 2017)."Christopher Lloyd Joins William Shatner in Comedy 'Senior Moment' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.Retrieved25 February2021.
- ^McNary, Dave (8 May 2017)."Ephraim Lopez, Jean Smart Join William Shatner Comedy 'Senior Moment'".Variety.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^Pena, Xochitl (23 October 2017)."William Shatner movie 'Senior Moment' shot in Palm Springs could be a hit, says producer. It just needs to be edited".The Desert Sun.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^Hipes, Patrick (26 January 2021)."'Senior Moment' Starring William Shatner, Jean Smart & Christopher Lloyd Lands At Screen Media ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^Welk, Brian (26 January 2021)."William Shatner, Jean Smart and Christopher Lloyd Comedy 'Senior Moment' Nabbed by Screen Media".TheWrap.Retrieved23 February2021.
- ^"Senior Moment (2021)".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved26 September2021.
- ^"Senior Moment Reviews".Metacritic.Retrieved8 April2021.
- ^Kenny, Glenn (25 March 2021)."'Senior Moment' Review: A Romance That Wouldn't Hurt a Flea ".The New York Times.
- ^Roeper, Richard (25 March 2021)."'Senior Moment': William Shatner, charming at 90, still can't save thin rom-com romp ".Chicago Sun-Times.