I don't normally review titles but I just watched this short film and found it quite moving, then upon looking it up I noticed that the only review of it wasn't that favorable so I decided to throw in my two cents. This short film is very charming and sweet and has the feel on one of those pixar films where something very simple occurs but it takes on this bittersweet profound meaning and gives you a feeling of warmth and happiness. Now imagine that but live action and with a couple grumpy old men and a decent amount of adult language. All and all it made for a very entertaining short film that I would recommend to anyone because not only was it very moving and funny, but it is only 16 minutes and very easy for anyone to view.
4 Reviews
Let us love and live till we drop
onefineday3611 September 2023
Most developed world nations are invariably getting old in terms of demographic, but there are still very little representation of the elderly people in the culture... gay or straight.
Getting into the film, I actually even didn't know it was Danny DeVito and David Marguiles. They both look really so old and frankly decrepit that I had no idea and just thought 'Oh, whoever they are, they are pretty good!'. But as old and decrepit as their characters are, they still have a heart, longing and need. This sweet short film captures the love in the old age as well as the rough old NY mannerisms and the reality of the elderly whose personal sovereignty is taken away as soon as they lose the ability to take care of themselves. Imagine how many gay couples, no matter how long they've lived together, had to be separated because their relationship was not officially recognized.
But time's changed. Old and frail, but Ralphy and Jackie can be together now.
Getting into the film, I actually even didn't know it was Danny DeVito and David Marguiles. They both look really so old and frankly decrepit that I had no idea and just thought 'Oh, whoever they are, they are pretty good!'. But as old and decrepit as their characters are, they still have a heart, longing and need. This sweet short film captures the love in the old age as well as the rough old NY mannerisms and the reality of the elderly whose personal sovereignty is taken away as soon as they lose the ability to take care of themselves. Imagine how many gay couples, no matter how long they've lived together, had to be separated because their relationship was not officially recognized.
But time's changed. Old and frail, but Ralphy and Jackie can be together now.
Wonderful film and tugged at my heartstrings
Kranadon6511 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I've watched it several times now and I tear up every time at the final scene of Ralphie and Jackie leaning on each other and cussing at each other then Ralphie gives a sweet smile and Jackie rubs his back. It was just so heatwarming ,I myself being a gay man can only hope i have someone who can cuss at me and love me like that. Some reviews I've read are a bit cynical that it seems to heavy handed etc. I disagree
I found it sweet and adorable. I could easily have fallen in love with either Ralphie or Jackie, you need that emotional connection that they have to feel it. An 80yo man needs to be held and loved just as much as a man half his age. Needs to be told he's a f&&&&& ah because you know he loves the attention. And the part where Jackie asks Ralphie to marry him was so touching. You can see Ralphie is so in love with him. I'm glad that for a change 2 gay men ended up happy together and somebody didn't die etc. It is sad though that David Margulies was terribly ill and passed away a few months after filming completed. It just makes the short that much more bittersweet, I'd like to think Devito really loved Margulies deep down in real life as they were best friends according to Devito.
I found it sweet and adorable. I could easily have fallen in love with either Ralphie or Jackie, you need that emotional connection that they have to feel it. An 80yo man needs to be held and loved just as much as a man half his age. Needs to be told he's a f&&&&& ah because you know he loves the attention. And the part where Jackie asks Ralphie to marry him was so touching. You can see Ralphie is so in love with him. I'm glad that for a change 2 gay men ended up happy together and somebody didn't die etc. It is sad though that David Margulies was terribly ill and passed away a few months after filming completed. It just makes the short that much more bittersweet, I'd like to think Devito really loved Margulies deep down in real life as they were best friends according to Devito.
Too uninspired in trying to be relevant
Horst_In_Translation21 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"Curmudgeons" is a 17-minute short film from this year (2016) and it was directed by the Oscar-nominated Danny DeVito and he also plays one of the major characters in here. The lead, however, is played by the late David Margulies in one of his final performances. DeVito's daughter Lucy is on board too. I have to say I did not know the word in the title and looking it up I see it means something like a Grinch, but not just during Christmas, instead for the whole year. It refers to most characters in this one, not just Margulies' and DeVito's. I personally did not enjoy the watch too much. The ending is really unimpressive and feels rushed in in an attempt to make the movie (politically) relevant. Maybe it would have worked better if DeVito's character had not been absent for the first half of the film. As a whole, it felt a lot like a weaker episode of "Always Sunny", in terms of the humor, the constant swearing and the approach that character talk tough with each other, but really like each other nonetheless, like the old man and the nurse. So yeah, nothing too memorable in here and despite the big name(s) attached to the project a really forgettable short film. Thumbs down.
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