The Time of Their Lives

The Time of Their Lives is a fun-filled road-trip-for-the-over-50s comedy written and directed by Oscar-nominated Roger Goldby.

The still-fabulous-at-83 soap opera star, prolific film actress and novel writer Dame Joan Collins plays Helen, a washed up Hollywood actress journeying to the west coast of France for her ex-lover’s funeral, who brings downtrodden Priscilla (Pauline Collins) along for the ride.

The film trundles along at a slightly sluggish pace but Goldby’s witty dialogue and comic timing bring a good few laughs. Pauline Collins puts in a great performance as Priscilla, the seemingly timid doormat of a grandmother who gets a new lease of life from her adventures with Helen, sharing banter and surprising those around her as she inches out of her shell.

Joan Collins in particular is convincing and somewhat self-deprecating in playing Helen, the perfectly groomed once famous actress whose appearance and confidence start to unravel as the film wears on. Brilliantly cutting lines and a star quality demeanour bring a “still got it” charisma to her time on screen. But beneath the humour there is a stinging truth to the battle against age, Collins poignantly ripping off her hairpiece and wiping off her otherwise fully made up face in exasperation at having to keep up the facade.

75-year-old Italian Franco Nero is the handsome wealthy artist who sweeps Priscilla and Helen off their feet with his energy and charm – at one point stripping off in full view of the camera to jump into a swimming pool – and rekindles a passion in Priscilla when an unexpected romance kicks off between them.

It’s somewhat refreshing to see the mature generation portrayed on the big screen and, like the movie’s heroines, prove that despite what our increasingly ageist society many think, getting older need not be a barrier to having some fun. It’s not a film at its most slick but The Time of Their Lives’ refusal to take life too seriously will no doubt leave viewers with a smile.

Sarah Bradbury

The Time of Our Lives is released nationwide on 10^th March 2017.

Watch the trailer for The Time of Our Lives here: