Poms (2019)

Directed by: Zara Hayes | 90 minutes | comedy, drama | Actors: Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Celia Weston, Alicia Boe

Diane Keaton became an unexpected style icon in the 1970s. The actress, who broke through in the role of Kay Adams in ‘The Godfather’ (1972) and both sequels, was noted early in her career for her stubbornness. She thrived in the films of Woody Allen, her partner both in front of and behind the scenes at the time. The neurotic, chaotic, and self-effacing women he let her play – most notably the Oscar-winning ‘Annie Hall’ (1977) – were in fact magnified versions of the actress herself. No one can bring themselves down like Keaton. Director Nancy Meyers, who once made the comedy ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ (2003) with her, called her ‘the most self-critical person in the world’. Nevertheless, the press and the public walked away with her. But the fact that she showed her vulnerabilities to the (female part of the) film audience was not only appreciated, but also her daring choice of clothing. For Keaton no tight tops, hip pants or colorful dresses, but vintage men’s clothing, wide trousers, turtlenecks, ties and hats – preferably as colorless as possible. She unleashed a new trend that has long since blown over. However, more than forty years after her breakthrough, Tomboy Diane still dresses quirky.

She is now 73 and a lot less of a leader, but she still makes films. Such as the light-hearted comedy ‘Poms’ (2019), written and directed by British filmmaker Zara Hayes, for whom this is the first fiction film after a series of documentaries – of which ‘Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist’ (2017) is the best known. . Keaton plays Martha, a cynical woman who has lived in the same house in New York after 48 years, now leaving her home and hearth to move to the retirement home of Sun Springs, Georgia. There she hopes to spend her last months in relative peace, because Martha turns out to be terminally ill. However, the peace turns out to be hard to find when the pushy, self-chosen neighborhood patrol, led by Vicki (Celia Weston), points out the rules that apply within the retirement home. When Martha then meets her new neighbor, the flamboyant Sheryl (Jacki Weaver), who is her polar opposite in every way, she doubts whether she did the right thing by moving to Sun Springs. However, it doesn’t take long before Martha and Sheryl turn out to have more in common than they thought. Although Martha keeps quiet about being seriously ill, she does share personal matters with Sheryl, such as the fact that her dream of becoming a cheerleader never came true due to her mother’s illness. Seeing how much Martha is doing, Sheryl decides to help her start a cheerleading squad in Sun Springs. Something that evokes the necessary resistance in the narrow-minded community.

For women 60 and older with their ailments and stiff limbs, the athletic movements and intricate choreographies that cheerleaders perform today are no easy feat, but the resulting slapstick is limited to a few injuries and a humiliating video on YouTube. Furthermore, ‘Poms’ mainly revolves around clichéd universal messages such as the importance of friendships, ‘you are never too old to chase your dreams’ and ‘live every day as if it were your last’. Hayes and co-writer Shane Atkinson stuffed their film full of unnecessary side characters and sidelines: For example, the added value of Sheryl’s grandson Ben (Charlie Tahan) is negligible, and the reason the ladies enter the regional cheerleading competition is solely because of the rousing images so produces a scene. But – if we judge a little more mildly – ​​that does give the film a nice feel-good vibe. ‘Poms’ has quite a bit of talent: Keaton has an Oscar on the mantelpiece and three more nominations in the pocket, Weaver was also nominated twice (for ‘Animal Kingdom’ (2010) and ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012) ). But among the ladies who sign up for the cheerleading team, we also see Rhea Perlman (known from the TV series ‘Cheers’), Pam Grier (‘Jackie Brown’, 1997) and Phyllis Somerville (‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ‘, 2008). A great ensemble of experienced actresses, who unfortunately get very little to do. Unfortunately, their characters also remain empty shells.

So ‘Poms’ doesn’t mean much, but it’s still nice to see actresses like Keaton, Weaver and Perlman in action, even if their roles here don’t offer nearly enough challenge. Partly because of its light-heartedness and feel-good atmosphere, despite its flaws, this film is quite entertaining.