vincentlynch-moonoi The joy of this film is simply watching 2 consummate actors -- Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton -- ply their craft. Oddly enough, I didn't like either of these actors when they were young. But in autumn, they are choice.The premise of the film is that an aging mixed race couple are thinking of moving out of New York City...mostly because their apartment is now worth $1 million, but partly because their current residence is 5 flights up...not good when you're getting old. Meanwhile, their small dog has to have expensive surgery.Korey Jackson is amazingly on-target as the young Morgan Freeman; I hope we see more of him. Claire van der Boom does well as the young Diane Keaton.It's really quite a touching film, and I enjoyed it...except for the ending. Morgan Freeman's character is clearly getting old, and they turn down selling their 4 floor walk-up...despite the fact that old people can't walk that many levels of stairs...trust me, I know. Nevertheless, I recommend this film for mature audiences. What impressed me was what was not emphasized...something that you just need to get on your own -- that many of the guess who's coming to dinner couples undoubtedly lived happy lives despite all the haters.

gradyharp It is so refreshing to watch a film with a contemporary story that focuses on older people and their choices and strengths instead of seeing them act foolish or pathetic. Based on Jill Ciment's book as adapted for the screen by Charlie Peters and directed with straightforward good taste by Richard Loncraine, this quiet little film is a wonderful platform for tow of our most respected actors – 69 year old Diane Keaton and 78 year old Morgan Freeman – who create an irresistible chemistry.Briefly, long-time happily married couple Ruth and artist Alex Carver (Keaton and Freeman) who've spent their lives together in the same New York apartment become overwhelmed by personal and real estate-related issues when they plan to move away, having decided to cash in on their sought-after Brooklyn apartment. The story opens with one of the reasons they feel the need to move after 40 years in the '5 flights up' apartment with no elevator: their little dog Dorothy is having difficulty maneuvering the stairs and ends up with a slipped vertebral disc that requires a Vet's expertise and surgery. They engage Ruth's niece, real estate agent Lily (Cynthia Nixon, who is wonderfully, gushingly obnoxious) and the visits to the apartment begin – all manner of rather despicable lookie-loos traipse through and a decision must be made. Ruth and Alex find an apartment in Manhattan that is one the 9th floor and has an elevator, but issues arise that make them alter their initial decision.Beautifully understated is the fact that Ruth and Alex are childless, entered an interracial marriage when it was not fashionable to do so, and have grown old together making every day count. They are wonderful and the film does them justice. It is such a pleasure to see two seasoned and gifted actors make such an impressive statement.Recommended for all those who think happiness is dependent on social media based.

TxMike We watched this on DVD loaned to us by our neighbors. My wife and I are in our 60s and we identified very well what this couple is going through. While I predicted about half-way through what would be resolved in the end it still was interesting to see what all they did to get there.The long-time married couple are played by Morgan Freeman (approaching 80) as Alex Carver and Diane Keaton (approaching 70) as his wife Ruth. He is an artist, a painter. In flashbacks we see that they had met many years earlier when she was working as a model and he hired her for a sitting. They hit it off and were married.So, as this story opens the title meaning comes into play, they live 5 flights up in a Brooklyn apartment they own, with no elevator. Neither is getting younger plus they have a dog which is starting to have trouble with the stairs. So they have decided to sell their place and move to a place more easily accessible. Ruth's niece is a real estate agent and is eager to get her commission on the approximate $ One Million sale.The story is complicated by their dog becoming ill at the same time, needing $10 Thousand of surgery, so that decision is also reflected in the dynamics of the couple.Some viewers have criticized this story for what they consider "nothing happens." But that is actually the interest here, seeing how the couple arrives at that point.My wife and I are not that much younger than the couple depicted here and we also are living in a place for a long time. We have thought about selling and moving and have many of the same concerns this fictitious couple had. I doubt that the usual viewer under 50 would appreciate this movie as much.SPOILERS: They host an open house, they get several buyers bidding, while they go see a place in Manhattan, about the same price as the home they are selling. The seller starts to pressure them, their agent starts to pressure them, more concerned with her commission than what is good for the couple. They get frustrated, they cancel their offer, they cancel their sale, the dog recovers well, and they stay home where they are happy and the view is great.

josepablome The movie is about an old couple who wants to sell their apartment because they're tired of walking 5 flights of stairs every day, and finally end up not moving because it turns out they liked their old apartment. But nothing interesting happens in the meantime, besides their dog getting sick and recovering at the end. No humor, no conflict, no drama, no intense moments. You expect something will happen, but it doesn't. The plot is completely flat and mundane. Even the message it tries to convey (how sentimental value is more important once you reach a certain age), it does it poorly. The only thing worth watching this movie are the beautiful shots of New York.