Review of Old Fashioned (2014) by Allan H — 14 Feb 2015

I enjoy character driven films that take a warranted amount of time to unfold the personalities on the screen. I love characters and the subtleties that make them who they are. I also don't mind a little manipulation along the way, as long as it is done well and pays off in the end. Old Fashioned does both of these things very well. It is a slow, unwinding film that can sometimes be cliché. But it doesn't claim to be anything else. This movie offers us a glimpse into an alternative worldview. Even with the occasional stereotypes, like most of the utterings from Aunt Zella , the old, wise, snappy Aunt, the movie is surprisingly creative in dealing with the very "old fashioned" subject of courtship.

Old Fashioned presents a refreshing worldview that there is a meaningful alternative to the current cultural conventions of quick sex and free love that seem to be the found in most dating rituals today. Let's face it, I cannot name one film in the last year that did not have this more common worldview. While Fifty Shades of Grey opens to over 3,500 screens this weekend, Old Fashioned will open to slightly more than 200. It's clear what the cultural norm is.

Old Fashioned is sweet, funny, and very endearing. It is also thought provoking. I felt for the characters, came to understand them, and even cheered for them at the end. Not many movies move me that much. It is obviously not going to be everyone's cup of tea. There are no car chases, burning buildings, or kidnappings. Oh, and there's no sex either. Yet, this film still managed to entertain me much more than I could have ever anticipated.

Elizabeth Roberts, who plays Amber, has a new fan in me. I will be watching her career in hopes I can see more of her work in the future. She was outstanding. Lejon Woods, who plays David, was another standout to me. In fact, all of the actors were very good. The only weak point may have been Rik Swartzwelder, who played Clay. He wasn't bad, but he didn't quite match the talents of the rest of the cast. The writing, also by Rik Swartzwelder, was creative, tight, and meaningful. I highly recommend this film for everyone.