Early Christmas Gift: HOW ABOUT YOU

In the spirit of geriatric dramadies (or commas) like last summer's sweet Elsa & Fred, HOW ABOUT YOU will be showing up this coming Friday at one of NYC's favorite senior citizen haunts, the Paris Theatre, just in time to capture the hearts, if not the minds, of feel-good filmgoers. Based on a Maeve Binchy short story (she gave us original material for films such as the good Circle of Friends, and the less-good Tara Road), this new film should prove a strong contender in its field due mostly to a crack cast, each one of whom is at the top of her -- in one case, his -- very fine form. That the movie also delivers on the theory that nasty, vituperative elders can become happy helpmeets for each other will not hurt its chances on the codger circuit. Believable? Not so much. Does this matter? Barely, once you've surrender to the movie's ample charms.

Directed by Anthony Byrne (with whose work I am unfamiliar) and adapted by Jean Pasley, the film hits all the right notes, even as it appears a bit sloppy as to time frame and logistics. Yet I wager that your mind will not be on those things but will rather be focused on watching the amazing faces of the film's famous cast. Really: where else are you going to find the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, Imelda Staunton, Brenda Fricker and Joss Ackland -- not to mention a truly lovely lady named Joan O'Hara (shown: top left, and now deceased), who holds her own against these storied performers. A final member of the cast must also be mentioned: young Hayley Atwell, most recently seen in The Duchess and Brideshead Revisited. I must say that, acting talent aside (and Ms Atwell has plenty), she looks ten times as fetching in modern dress (and make-up) as she did in those two costume epics. And her very modern, modest acting style perfectly counterpoints the work of the oldsters on view. Together, Atwell and the seniors provide a near-perfect dose of holiday charm and sass. I'd welcome being part of a senior home if the other occupants (and the help) included the characters here.

The story (yes, there is one) involves a old-age home in the countryside that is barely running, given its problemactic residents and a depressed owner. Onto the scene comes the owner's younger sister who needs money and/or a job. But all this is just an excuse to heat up that old reliable: actors' chemistry. which soon reaches bubbling-over level -- and stays there throughout. Strand Releasing, purveyor of mostly gay- or dark-themed properties, is distributing How About You. I find it an odd choice for Strand, but a welcome one, particularly around this time of the year.