Never too old to rock

Senior chorus proves you never have to stop doing what you love

Kolby Harvey - harveykb@plu.edu

mast a&e reporter

At first glance, “Young@Heart” can seem slightly contrived. However, what starts off as a gimmicky exploration of a group of senior citizens singing rock n’ roll songs, quickly becomes something more. Any perceived schmaltz coming from the directorial end is quickly overpowered by the immense charisma not only of the charming personae of the members of the choir, but also that of their performances. The simple fact is, these people know how to perform.

What they may lack in technical skill is more than made up for in sheer stage presence. They may go out of tune from time to time, but the members of the Young at Heart Chorus put more emotion and energy into their shows than half of the professional groups I have seen.

“Young@Heart” is director Stephen Walker’s documentation of the Massachusetts choral group’s preparation for a hometown concert in North Hampton. In spite of the challenge of learning a dearth of new songs and dealing with the unexpected deaths of two of their strongest singers, the men and women of Young at Heart prove extraordinarily resilient, and their energy carries through to the last seconds of the film.

The myriad performers, each with their own distinct sense of humor, make every song introduced in the film a treat. Not only is the singing competent, but many members are surprisingly talented, particularly Fred Knittle whose voice is a dead ringer for Johnny Cash. His subdued, aching take on Coldplay’s “Fix You” is simply incredible.

Not just a sugary trifle, the exuberance of “Young@Heart” is underscored by the pervading presence of death in the lives of its performers. However, the film, much as the members of the chorus themselves, continues on with an ultimately positive, albeit bittersweet outlook on life.
In the end, this movie was made as much for the Young at Heart Chorus as it was for its eventual audience. The handful of music video sequences give the chorus members a chance to showcase their infectious personalities while doing something they love. At every turn in the film, they consistently state how much they love doing what they do. It keeps them going. The difference between a patronizing portrait and the respectful one that “Young@Heart” offers is the pleasure on the faces of its actors. Their joie de vivre becomes ours, and that is what makes the film a success.

"Young@Heart"

Directed by Stephen Walker

Rated PG-13, 126 mins