Reviews

Young@Heart

Pleasantly predictable

By CHRIS WANGLER | April 16, 2008

3.0 Stars

Neil Young

The Young@Heart Chorus was formed in Northampton in 1982 by whip-cracking director Bob Cilman. This pleasantly predictable documentary, directed by Stephen Walker for British TV, follows the diehard group of seniors as they rehearse pop and rock covers for the 12th edition of their “Alive and Well” tour. On stage, the chorus delivers every word clearly and earnestly, often with hints of unintentional irony. Behind the scenes, the challenges presented by the most eclectic songs (Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia,” Allen Toussaint’s “Yes, We Can”) force members with terminal health conditions to step up. Some of the numbers are extra corny given the context (“Stayin’ Alive,” “I Wanna Be Sedated”), but a handful (Dylan’s “Forever Young,” Coldplay’s “Fix You”) are so moving that they lift the film above the clichés you’d expect of the genre. To sweeten the pot, Walker sprinkles low-budget music videos throughout. 107 minutes | Coolidge Corner

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