SENIOR MOMENT | FILM REVIEW
Dir: Giorgio Serafini (15, 92 mins)
William Shatner headlines this comedy, his charm and pairing with Jean Smart just about papering over the creaks and dodgy moments. Shatner plays Victor, a man full of joie de vivre: a former NASA test pilot who zooms around Palm Springs in his beloved vintage car. When caught attempting to race and driving recklessly, he is forced to take public transport and realises that some of his ways may have to change. Dreading becoming ‘old’; driving a shopmobility scooter; not being able to play the field or leer over young women (such as the nonsensically underclothed Katrina Bowden) before jumping into pools with them.
Christopher Lloyd chews the scenery occasionally as Shatner’s best buddy and wingman Sal Spinelli, but is otherwise wasted as the story limps along and Shatner gets to know (and fall for) the ebullient Smart, who laces her strudel with marijuana. The meandering plot involves Shatner trying to get his car back with the aid of a dodgy lawyer, a fundraiser for tortoises, and some casual misogyny as the Shat tries not to be distracted by young women in bikinis. Then he spots Smart with another, younger man, Esai Morales, and jealousy erupts.
It’s affable enough but the gossamer-thin story and script lumbers along, encumbered with plenty of cringe moments. Shatner and Smart make a winning couple – it’s a shame they don’t have a better script to play with. Ruminations about ageing and regrets are made, but it’s all very surface, and under Serafini’s workmanlike direction has little impact. At 90, Shatner still has some comedy chops – however, they could have been much better served by a stronger script. Although sweet at times, Senior Moment feels as if it was made for 80s TV.
Out now via digital download
words KEIRON SELF