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SALT LAKE CITY — Did you know that September is “Healthy Aging Month?” Well, now you do, and here are four films to help you celebrate aging well.
"Arsenic and Old Lace"
The final years of life can be difficult for elderly people after they have lost their beloved spouse. Feelings of loneliness and a loss of identity are common after people are widowed. Finding purpose and meaning often becomes of the utmost concern for these people. In “Arsenic and Old Lace,” two sisters have an extreme solution for these widowed elderly folks: kill them! While this plot sounds morbid and twisted, the film is surprisingly good-natured and funny.
Throw on “Arsenic and Old Lace” if you need a good laugh.
"Marley & Me"
For many people, dogs are family members with a shorter life span. Many kids around the world will grow up with a dog who is aging seven times faster than them and so they will get to see the dog in its infant stages to old age before they even graduate from high school. “Marley & Me” chronicles the life of a dog from his youthful escapades to dealing with arthritis and other ailments as an old dog.
Rent “Marley & Me” if you had a special bond with a dog but be prepared for memories of your favorite dog flooding your mind.
"Up"
In “Up,” Carl Fredricksen is a grumpy old man who is trying to cleave to his home despite the rampant construction going up all around him. When he gets into trouble and is sanctioned to go to a retirement home, Fredricksen develops a scheme to float his home away with thousands of balloons. Unbeknownst to him, a young boy named Russell is standing on his porch when Fredricksen is floating away to South America. Faced with no alternative, Fredricksen begrudgingly takes Russell with him and slowly again finds purpose for his golden years.
Check out “Up” if you are in the mood for a feel good story.
Waking Ned Devine
In “Waking Ned Devine,” Ned Devine receives the best news of his life: he has won the Irish lottery. The problem is, the news is so outrageous that Devine dies from shock. Upon finding out that Devine is both dead and won the lottery, the entire village comes together to hatch a plan of fooling the claims person into believing that Michael O’Sullivan is Ned Devine. Much like “Arsenic and Old Lace,” the movie’s plot sounds darker than it ends up being.
If you are looking for a goof-ball comedy set in some beautiful country, look no further than “Waking Ned Devine.”
Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.
