FEATURE FILM REVIEW
OLDER
Alex catches up with an old high school friend at a wedding, and sparks fly. If only he could get over his crush...
SCREENWRITER ALEX LUCAS (Guy Pigden) performs his duties for his best friend Henry's (Harley Neville) wedding. It's apparent that he's not sure how he feels about this whole wedding business because he thinks he will lose his best friend. But something good is coming from all of this - he runs into one of his old friends Jenny (Liesha Ward Knox), and the two seem to pick up right where they left off. Things are going great, and Alex notices another lady in the room. Stephanie, played by Astra McLaren, a girl he's had a crush on since high school. The two have never officially been a couple, but being friends with benefits has left nothing to complain about. Almost. Alex has always wanted more from his relationship with Stephanie, and she knows it, but she's not really interested in anything more than stringing him along. So she has someone when she needs them. It's clear Jenny doesn't think much of Stephanie, to everyone except Alex.
AS ALEX CONTINUES TO JUGGLE BOTH JENNY AND STEPHANIE, JENNY IS QUICKLY BECOMING FRUSTRATED
Moving on, Alex invites Jenny back to his place for some after wedding shenanigans, and she happily accepts only Alex's parents are still awake. Much to Alex's horror, they begin poking fun at him. He is, after all, almost thirty with no job and still lives at home. Jenny seems to get a kick out of all this, and the two spend the night together. No sex, only spooning the F*ck out of each other. But the seed is planted and for Jenny, maybe Alex will finally realize she's been into him for a long time. This rediscovered "friendship" could be a really good thing.
The next day, reeling from a hangover, Alex gets a call from Stephanie to hang out, and after a night of drinking, the two finally have sex. Alex is on the moon, thinking this could finally be his time, but it's quickly made apparent that Stephanie is not looking for a boyfriend, and only another friend with benefits. As Alex continues to juggle both Jenny and Stephanie, Jenny is quickly becoming frustrated, and after Alex suffers a loss in the family, Jenny is the one girl that is there for him. In true Alex fashion, he doesn't seem to notice or care. It's only when some big news is presented that Alex realizes what Jenny really wants from him, and for whatever reason, he continues to fight it. He wants Jennifer but can't let go of Stephanie. Basically, he wants it all with no care for those he hurts. 
HE JUST WANTS TO DO HIM AND DOESN'T REALLY CARE WHAT THAT MEANS TO THOSE AROUND HIM
Older is basically your standard romance movie where the hero needs to make a big decision about what he wants in life. The catch here, is that Alex is presented as a man who has never really grown up. A man still with the mind, needs, and wants of a teenager. He just wants to do him and doesn't really care what that means to those around him. Having him as an aspiring (or failed depending on how you look at it) filmmaker was an interesting take on the character, considering how cliche the response is when you say you are a filmmaker, but his job could have been anything. I also appreciated the stark contrast between the two girls. They were so different, and yet Alex liked both of them. The entire side plot involving Henry and his wife, and their baby was a nice touch also. An honest, refreshing look at the life of a new father and his family. His weakness when it came to Stephanie also added to the story, mainly to villanize her enough to make you feel a little sorry for her when Alex confronts her.
IT WASN'T THE COMEDY THAT KEPT MY EYES ONSCREEN, IT WAS THE STORY AND THE ACTING THAT DID THAT
I would recommend this film to those who have a soft spot for romantic comedies. I will also warn that although there is actual comedy in this film, it does evaporate and eventually vanishes alltogether. That was fine for me because it wasn't the comedy that kept my eyes onscreen. It was the story and the acting that did that. I'm not going to say that every performance in Older is Oscar-worthy, but they were good enough for me. Four stars, and thank you for reading.
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