If you like Jack Black’s School of Rock or happened to catch the indie documentary Rock School, chances are you’ll love Young@Heart. While it focuses on the other end of the age spectrum, Stephen Walker’s documentary is a real charmer as it recounts how a chorus composed of senior citizens from New Hampshire, overcome various setbacks to get ready for a concert in their hometown of Northampton. Oh, did I mention they sing nothing but rock classics? This premise may sound like a cheap gimmick that panders for good-natured chuckles, but the singers, whose average age is 81, win us over with their tenacity, good-humor and the vigor with which they perform these songs, some of which take on different shades having been sung by these spry seniors.
There are 24 members in the singing group and while we don’t get to know all of them intimately, the impression is that the experiences of those that Walker focuses on are representative of them all. One of them, Fred, doesn’t let his oxygen tank in the way of his performing while Bob and Joe have battled serious illness and injury but still find the energy to belt out their parts in the group’s rendition of James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” As for most of the others…well, let’s just say that getting old is a real bitch.
The director walks a fine line here, as the film veers over into shameless mugging at times. When we’re shown music videos that the group has made that are far too obvious in their irony (David Bowie’s “Golden Years?!?”), the film doesn’t do the group justice, while other moments in which it’s obvious that Walker is going for a “Aren’t old people cute?” reaction, smacks of pandering as well.
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However, the movie is salvaged when we see what the members of the group are dealing with away from the spotlight during the seven weeks we spend with them. Seeing them cope with the many problems inherent with growing old, we come to understand the passion with which they approach their music and it resonates not only with them, but for us as well. Just try keeping a dry eye as they belt out Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” at a local prison. Moments like these, and there are enough of them here, helps Young at Heart transcend its gimmick and poignantly remind us of the importance of life and art from those who know of what they speak.
Young@Heart begins today at Boardman’s Art Theatre.
Runtime: 1h 47min — Rated PG — Documentary