Poms review – Breezy geriatric comedy

Not many Hollywood films deploy older, mature women in leading roles.  The trend is towards sexy young things, many of whom cannot act, to attract youthful audiences.

Poms is different. It’s a breezy geriatric comedy, under the deft direction of Zara Hayes, which quite likely will appeal to totally different tastes.

Veteran actress Diane Keaton stars and also serves as a co-producer on Poms. This may account for the fact that she has managed to assemble a dependable cast of names from the past to flesh out some of the elderly characters who make up the residents of a pleasant retirement village in Atlanta, Georgia.

Three of the more familiar names are Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier and Bruce McGill, and all contribute handsomely towards a production that looks at retirement and old age.

Poms. STX Films

Jacki Weaver, who reminds me of Dolly Parton, is perfectly cast as Sheryl, the outgoing, outspoken foil to the more demure Keaton character, Martha.

Martha is a lonely woman who is dying of cancer but will not tell anybody of her plight. She has rejected chemotherapy and has moved into the village.

The feel-good story chronicles Martha’s endeavours to start a cheerleading squad to fulfil a dream she has harboured as a teenager. She ropes in other elderly members with varying degrees of success because she’s up against the bossy Vicki (Celia Weston).

As chairperson of the board, Vicki rules the village with an iron fist. Martha becomes a thorn in her side.

Keaton, who never seems to dress up for her film roles but continues to wear her familiar dowdy apparel, resuscitates the speech patterns and mannerisms of many similar characters she has played during her career.

Poms. STX Films

Perlman, as Alice, and Grier, Olive, do not get as much screen time as Keaton and Weaver, but they are effective in the ensemble work.

McGill plays the ineffective head of security who has to keep the gals in check.

Smart dance moves and perky music help the production along.

Info

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Cast: Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Bruce McGill, Celia Weston, Rhea Perlman, Pam Grier.
Director: Zara Hayes.

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