National treasure Blythe Danner stars in this film that symbolizes the realistic effects of living with loneliness after the loss of everything that seemed to make sense. ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’ tells a story about a widow and former songstress (Danner), who discovers that life can begin anew at any age. With the support of three loyal girlfriends (June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place), Carol decides to embrace the world, embarking on an unlikely friendship with her pool maintenance man (Martin Starr), pursuing a new love interest (Sam Elliott), and reconnecting with her daughter (Malin Akerman). The film rests a lot on it’s comedically charming cast, most of which is at it’s peak when the four female friends share an array of scenes, ranging from a sex talking poker game, to a marijuana smoke out followed by a munchie fest that will have your gut hurting in laughter. Where the film trails off is in a third act that begins with a bombshell that left the audience, as well as the movie gasping and searching for a new identity. If anything defines this film, it’s Danner. She has always been a real starlight in the Hollywood acting, but ‘Dreams’ is the first film in a while that features her at the helm. It’s a tour de force performance, complete with irresistable charm and a subtely poignant underbelly that reaches for the most from her audience. If not for Danner, the film would be greatly in trouble from the series of unanswered questions around her in this weak script. More on that later. The movie also supplies a quiet and tragic look into the crippling world of loneliness. The actions of Danner’s character to avoid the quietness of a daily routine that has her screaming for more inside, is well documented with many repetitve actions done over and over again within the first fiteen minutes of the movie. I think that this point certainly communicates Carol’s desire to change, even if she believes it may be too late. That change comes in the form of on-screen squeeze, Bill (Elliott). Elliott is decent, but his screen time is minimal for someone who is getting second billing in this movie. The love story between he and Danner slowly builds over the first half hour, and then feels sped up when the movie realizes it hasn’t done much between the two. All of this is at the front and center when a nice relationship based on chemistry is being built between Danner and Starr. This was the relationship that i was really pulling for, and the movie seems to want that out of it’s audience until the big bombshell happens and suddenly it takes a stand in the department of awkward because the film feels afraid to take a chance because of their age difference. That’s not to say that the movie is afraid of taking chances totally. The big bombshell is more than enough to debunk that statement, but it feels like the chances being taken are the wrong ones in terms of storytelling satisfaction when it’s all said and done. I didn’t feel like the characters were any better for the end result of their respective situations. ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’ is certainly likeable enough, based on it’s always entertaining cast and interesting set up. It gets a passing grade from me, despite me never having to really have any interest to watch it again. Some dreams are easily forgotten, but thanks to a twilight performance from Danner, this dream has some everlasting memory.

6/10