When critics found themselves unexpectedly moved by the documentary Young@Heart last year, it was mostly because the film by Stephen Walker didn't go the sentimental route, telling the story about an elderly chorus singing pop songs in a straightforward and honest manner, letting the audience get emotional when they chose to. It wasn't manipulative Hollywood stuff, basically. But now it has the chance to be.
According to THR, there's a narrative remake of Young@Heart in the works, to be written by Will Reiser for Working Title. Reiser also wrote the screenplay I'm With Cancer based on his own experiences, and the movie is currently being produced by Seth Rogen and starring James McAvoy.
I'm sure Reiser will stay true to the original documentary's tone and will avoid the kind of cringeworthy "rapping granny" moments you'd expect in a worst-case scenario. But I still just can't come up with a good reason for a feature version of this movie to exist. Please, please, at least check out the original before the narrative version shows up-- you need to hear the real Fred Knittle sing Coldplay's "Fix You" in the proper context to fully understand it.
