Susan Granger At The Movies

Luca

Once upon a time near a beautiful seaside town in the Cinque Terra region of the Italian Riviera, two young mermen — or, as the locals called them, ‘sea monsters’ — spend an unforgettable summer together.

Despite cautionary warnings from his parents (voiced by Maya Rudolph/Jim Gaffigan), teenage “Luca” (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) is curious about the world that’s above the surface of the sea where he and his family live.

Venturing out of the water and onto the beach one day, Luca discovers that, when he dries off, his fish-tail morphs into legs. He’s not quite sure how to use these strange appendages but a new-found friend, fellow sea monster/boy Alberto (Jack Dylan Grazer), encourages him to experiment with walking, then running and climbing.

Visiting the ‘human’ town of Portorosso in search of a Vespa scooter, Luca and Alberto befriend rebellious Giulia (voiced by Emma Berman) who is determined to win the annual triathlon, consisting of swimming, pasta consumption, and bicycling down winding, stone-paved streets, despite taunting from obnoxious Ercole Visconti (voiced by Saverio Raimondo).

Having shown Giulia’s father (voiced by Marco Barricelli) where to find the best spot to fish, Luca and Alberto are readily accepted onto her ‘team’ for the upcoming competition while keeping their ‘true’ identities a secret from the townspeople who are terrified of ‘sea monsters.’

Based on a story by Enrico Casarosa, Jesse Andrews and Simon Stephenson, it’s freshly scripted by Jesse Andrews and Mike Jones. Their fantasy-quest chronicles how a fervent, if short-lived friendship can change one’s life forever.

Genoa’s first-time feature director Enrico Casarosa , who impressed with his animated short “La Luna” (2010), has a distinct visual flair. The soft, pastel-tinted characters look hand-drawn with rounded edges. The heaping plates of pasta are mouth-watering and drenching rain is meticulously detailed.

FYI: Pixar Easter egg fans: note how street names pay homage to authors/filmmakers.

It’s Not a Burden

“I think there are few jobs in the world that are as important as being an adult caring for a parent,” says Ilene Mitnick, who spent the first 18 years of her life in her parents’ home, and then her late father Howie spent most of his last 18 years living in hers.

She’s just one of the nearly 42 million Americans who serve as unpaid caregivers for elderly relatives.

In a series of bittersweet vignettes built around an amusement park outing, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Michelle Boyaner’s documentary “It’s Not a Burden,” subtitled “The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents,” explores the frustrations and fears of this caregiver community.

“The message is: you are not alone,” states Boyaner. “I don’t think most people are aware of how many people engage in these role reversal/caregiving roles until you’re in it, and then you see it everywhere. It’s like you’re in a club and spot the special ring that everybody has.”

Over a period of six years, Boyaner, cinematographer Barbara Green and their crew visited more than 20 families, including Esther, a 96 year-old actress who can sing better than she can speak, and Brother Kenneth, a priest who looks after retired church brethren.

Boyaner also reveals how she coped with her estranged, dementia-afflicted mother, Elaine. After divorcing her husband and deserting their eight children, Elaine converted to Mormonism and moved to Utah. When she returned, there was the challenge of repairing those conflicted relationships.

“In the beginning of this (pandemic), the lives of the elderly were treated like collateral damage, as if there was no value left in them,” Boyaner notes, referring to how the pandemic impacted and devastated those living in group homes. 80% of all U.S. COVID deaths were among those 65 and older, and a little over a third of those who died were in long-term-care facilities.

Senior Moment

Hard to believe but William Shatner turned 90 on March 22nd — and in the mildly amusing rom-com “Senior Moment,” he’s still as flirty and frisky as ever.

Set in Palm Springs, California, the plot revolves around Victor Martin (Shatner), a retired NASA test pilot, who loves to cruise around the desert oasis in his pristine, eye-catching ‘50s Porsche 356 Continental, often accompanied by his best friend Sal (Christopher Lloyd).

At night, he’s honorary “host” at Captain Hook’s, a local piano bar, where he jokes with the guys and makes lecherous passes at scantily-clad women young enough to be his granddaughter, even great-granddaughter.

Complications arise when a local “cholo,” Pablo (Carlos Miranda), in a lowrider challenges him to drag race. Eager to engage, Victor doesn’t notice the police car lurking around the corner, so soon he’s in court, where the judge impounds his car and takes away his driver’s license until he can pass the DMV test in a month.

After years of proclaiming, “Only losers ride the bus,” Victor’s stuck with taxis, Ubers or even walking. Eventually he stumbles onto a bus where he meets bohemian Caroline (Jean Smart), owner of the Cuckoo Café.

Although superficially they’re not compatible — she’s a strictly organic hippie while he’s heavily into junk food, like packaged Honey Buns — until she seduces him with her homemade strudel.

As the amiable plot meanders forward, Caroline’s also avid about raising money to benefit Saving the Desert Tortoise, aided and abetted by her young, handsome artist friend (Esai Morales), whom Victor considers a rival for her affections.

Sketchily scripted by Kurt Brungardt and Christopher Momenee, it’s unevenly directed by Giogio Serafini. Shapely bikini model Katrina Bowden (“30 Rock”) wanders in and out of a few scenes.

FYI: previously, Shatner and Lloyd appeared together in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (1984).

Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.

As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.

During her adult life, Susan has been on radio and television as an anchorwoman and movie and drama critic, syndicating her reviews and articles around the world, including Video Librarian. She has appeared on American Movie Classics and Turner Classic Movies. In 2017, her book 150 Timeless Movies was published by Hannacroix Creek Books.

Her website is www.susangranger.com. Follow her on Twitter @susangranger.