Live Life Team
‘Grumpy Old Men’ is a four-part documentary film that shows British men aged 35 to 54, and who are considered the grumpiest of any age group. Among the grumpy old men in the film are Arthur Smith, John Peel, Will Self, Jeremy Clarkson, and Rick Wakeman. The film has a wide range of subject matter–from Tony Blair as a pop idol to Christmas. It also deals with a man’s perception of the world, especially when it comes to what they see as the lousy ageing process. Geoffrey Palmer eloquently narrates the painful experiences of these prominent middle-aged men ripping on all the things that “hack them off”. These men grew up in an era when the world was supposed to be getting better, with love and peace and all that. These men are grumpy about mobile phones, the return of flares, not knowing how much to look at women, and the myth that life would be easier as they get older. A constant use of flashbacks brings the viewer back to the 60s and 70s when the men were still young and idealist.
It is said that the acting skills of the film’s grumpy old men are excellent, stemming from the fact that they are realistic, average grumpy old men. Although some of the English jokes are not that familiar to other viewers, this documentary remains entertaining for all with its funny narration style. Goeffrey Palmer shows these men in an apparent state of composure with a deep desire to move everyone.
