This was, after all, the role that finally won an Oscar for Don Ameche. Much as already been said about the excellent performances of the older cast members. Also present are the standard Howard family repertory, with brother Clint as the nursing home attendant and father Rance making a brief appearance as a detective. A little Guttenberg goofiness goes a long way. Ron Howard wisely kept Steve Guttenberg's role limited, focusing mainly on the older characters. Whether she was a limited actress or merely underplaying the role is for others to decide. Tahnee Welch, daughter of the seemingly ageless Raquel, was wholesomely fetching here. It looks absolutely real, as if it had sat there among the Florida palms for decades. Even more impressive was the poolhouse, which was hastily constructed purely as a setpiece for the movie. The glowing aliens are quite good except for the all too familiar hand movements by Caprice Rothe, who first did the job for 'E.T.' Still, by and large the effects are impressive and convincing even when compared against the latest films of the 21st century. There are quite a few effects shots, although the variety of effects is rather limited. But it's up to us whether we want to BE old or merely mature.įor a science fiction movie, it would appear to have few special effects. In that, it's a good lesson for people heading into their golden years or even those of us just having midlife crises. When that changes through the magic of alien technology, they become, if not the picture of reckless youth, at least a semblance of the people they were once upon a time, proving the old cliché: you ARE only as old as you feel. Kept in a nursing home, days filled with vapid activities like shuffleboard or mah-jongg, whiling away hours floating in a deserted swimming pool, watching people your own age drop like flies. When we first meet the motley group, they are as many of us dread one day becoming. The senior characters of this modern day fable took this poem to heart. 'Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day Rage, rage against the dying of the light.' - Dylan Thomas

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