Venus...humorous and touching

Venus is a witty film about long term friends, Maurice, (played by Peter O'Toole), and Ian, (played by Leslie Phillips), who are over the hill actors; struggling to come to terms with the emptiness of their geriatric years, and the concept of their impending expiration.

Ian has come to the point where he needs someone to look after him, as a result his great-niece, Jessie (played by Jodie Whittaker), comes to live with him. It soon becomes apparent that Ian finds the teenager vulgar, can’t bear to be in her presence and can’t get rid of her. Maurice, desperate for companionship and smitten with her youth, accepts the daily chore of getting Jessie out of the house and spending time with her. He comes to nickname her Venus, after the Roman goddess, and while they have their challenges, they essentially learn to take care of each other in a rather pecuilar way. GO SEE Venus it is humorous, with moments of melancholy; the epiphanies & regrets they experience as their life comes closer to the end is touching and frightening. The chemistry that Maurice has with Jessie, Ian, and his x-wife, Valerie, played by Vanessa Redgrave is brilliant. Bravo to Peter O’Toole, not to mention, the music by Corrine Bailey Rae is wonderful. (95 minutes, R)