Wheeeeeeeew..... THE OLD MAN WHO READ LOVE STORIES, I predict that this will not be the title of the sleeper hit of 2000. This sounds... um.... ungood. Harry here and ya know... I think we all have genuine love for Richard Dreyfuss... But ever since DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS, his career choices have been Harrison-Ford-esque, with the exception of his wonderful take on the President in FAIL SAFE. Remember, this is a test screening and beyond early in the process. Beware of Spoilers... take care and God bless...
Harry,
I have nobody but myself to blame for this one. I just got out of a test screening of "The Old Man Who Read Love Stories" starring Richard Dreyfuss. And yes, I signed the form saying not to talk about it, but when they subject me to something like this all bets are off.
In hindsight, the horrible title alone should've have warned me off. I should've been nowhere near this film judging by the description on the paper, which basically synopses the film as an old man named Antonio (Dreyfuss) lives in the woods, reads love stories, and has to fight a cougar threatening his village composed of slack-jawed idiots and his dull love interest. If this wasn't enough, before the thing began the witless focus group recruiter asked only people above 50 to stay and talk about the film afterwards. Being 21 years old, at this point I should've been shamefacedly racing for the door in regards to my temporary insanity for thinking I would be able to tolerate this.
Sadly I remained. I watched as Dreyfuss reads from the books in scene after scene, struggling with the text because he can't read very well. Taking five minutes a sentence. Stopping after every sentence to ponder the meaning of what he just "read." There are some other plots thrown in-like the cougar killing people and the cliche evil mayor who rigs the votes. But all in all it's a borefest that's destined for limited release in only the shoddiest theaters. All in all, unwatchable.
-Film Dude
