‘Young@Heart’: They can still feel the heat

A Review

Click to Enlarge Browse Aspen Times Photos The Young@Heart Chorus is the focus of the documentary “Young@Heart.” (Fox Searchlight)

Stephen Hunter
The Washington Post
Aspen, CO Colorado
May 12, 2008

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“Young@Heart” is a festival of good behavior, a little talent, a lot of work and a kind of commitment to the idea that shows must go on, individuals must sacrifice for the whole, and doing good is better, though harder, than talking good.

It follows a choir of generally peppy septuagenarians from Northhampton, Mass., through six weeks of practice, trial, tribulation and performance. The gimmick that has propelled the group Young@Heart to a small measure of fame is that rather than sing standbys such as “Sweet Adeline” and “As Time Goes By,” they’re rockers, rappers and punkers. So when Dora Morrow dodders to the microphone and lets out with James Brown’s famous cry of “I feel good,” or when Stan Goldman, who looks like a cross between Don Rickles and Alan Arkin, answers Morrow with a “Yeeee-oww,” guess what? You’re the one who feels good.

Documentarian Stephen Walker’s brisk, ironic style of narration and frank inclusion of himself in the observations contribute mightily to the enterprise, which is also aided by his honesty. Here are old people in all the magnificence of their elderliness. The movie doesn’t pretend like getting old is any fun. But it’s about the transcendental power of — well, yes, music; and each of these folks has a talent whose expression is a fuel to survive. Singing in the chorus gives meaning to life; living for the whole and not the self, the love of comrades of the same circumstance and situation, that’s what keeps them alive.

“Young@Heart” — Classified: PG. Running time: 110 minutes.