Quartet

Quartet (2012)

Director:  Dustin Hoffman

Stars:  Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly


Quartet takes place in a retirement home for musicians, and everyone's gearing up for an annual benefit concert honoring the composer Giuseppi Verdi.  Three quarters of a quartet renowned for their performance in a past production of Rigoletto already reside at the home, and Jean Horton, the four member (Maggie Smith) arrives later.  Unlike most of the residents, Jean is not eager to perform, but a plan is hatched to have the quartet reunite for the benefit.  She was previously married to Reginald Paget (Courtenay) but had an affair shortly after their wedding and broke his heart, so he's not exactly thrilled to see her.

Quartet is great as a comfort film.  It has some familiar faces (including Smith at her most severe, Connolly as a charmer who lost his filter after a stroke, and Gambon looking nearly Dumbledorian with a robe and cane), doesn't have a very stressful conflict and takes mostly predictable turns.  It does tug at the heartstrings with the story of Jean and Reginald, and falls somewhere in the range between charming and witty. There are a couple of questionable choices- in one scene, Reginald lets fly with a couple expletives insulting one of the breakfast servers, which didn't really jibe with his character overall.  Another audience member loudly exclaimed during the credits that it was a cute movie, and I agree with that assessment.

Mr. Matt's rating:  0.50 - nothing new to see here, but a good time nonetheless.   Another audience member loudly exclaimed during the credits that it was a cute movie, and I agree with that assessment.  I'm curious to see how it compares with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (also starring Smith), which I aim to see soon.