Directed by: Guy Pigden Written by: Guy Pigden Genre: Drama Romance |
Older
Guy Pigden, as Alex Lucas, is a struggling screenwriter who, above all else, doesn't want to grow up. Life is pretty good, and the fear of moving on is crippling him as his friends around him begin to settle into their adult lives. One such friend, Henry, is taking the plunge and getting married. This is what sets up Older, which Guy Pigden also writes and directs. It's at the wedding he meets up with two women -- Stephanie and Jenny, who are both women from his past.
The two competing love interests for Alex are polar opposites. Stephanie is a model living the party life, and Jenny is more laid back, working at a coffee shop. Stephanie wants to continue to play the game, and herself doesn't seem to want to grow up, and Jenny is all but ready for someone stable to come along. Alex? He's caught in the middle but reaping the benefits both women have to offer. A best friend, eventually with benefits and a portal to ongoing youth through his interactions with Stephanie. But sooner or later, Alex's ideal situation changes. He slowly comes to realize that Jenny wants so much more from him, and that Stephanie doesn't really want a commitment at all. To top it all off with a cherry, Alex finds himself in a similar situation as Henry once did. Older doesn't offer much in the way of creating a unique story. This is a story rehashed over and over in movies, both independent and studio. What this title does do, is tell its story as realistically and honestly as it can, and for a micro-budget film, it does a pretty good job. The live Alex leads really isn't bad. No responsibilities, a new woman every day if he chooses, so the main focus should have been his choice of women. His choice to grow up or be a loser. Eventually, the film does tackle these scenarios at full throttle, but the first act especially left little mark on me. But once the real story of Older starts cooking up, it really worked out well. Another point of interest worth mentioning is the casting, and acting in the film itself. As a micro-budget film, the acting is pretty solid, even brilliant sometimes. As a certain famous song says, growing up is hard to do, and Older serves as a reminder of that even for those who have passed that line long ago. In many ways, it was a nostalgic experience for me. In some ways, it felt a little whiny, in a storytelling way that made the film more credible. I can't help but wonder how differently people of different ages will take in this film but ultimately, there's some good work here. |
