There is an undeniable draw that music has for humans and an undeniable dynamic that exists within a family. No matter what style of music you listen to or family background you come from, these subjects stir the soul. For this film, the progression of how and why that is becomes the route the filmmakers choose to explore. Unfortunately, the story you see is the same song you've heard many times before.
Unfinished Song trickles us into the final days of a bittersweet marriage. Arthur (Terrance Stamp) is a grumpy old man because Marion (Vanessa Redgrave), the love of his life, is dying of cancer. One of Marion's favorite activities is singing in a local senior citizens choir led by a 20-something choir instructor (Gemma Arterton).
The film is essentially the last half of the marriage montage in Up meets Pitch Perfect"”with old people. Watching them sing Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" and Salt N Pepa's "Let's Talk About Sex" is an amusing novelty that serves better as a viral video than a plot device. While those scenes do bring some humor, its one-note joke effect wears off quickly.
The most authentic thing about this film is its relationships among the characters. However, I found it hard to have empathy for some of them because I was constantly reminded of many shows on television (especially cable) that handle similar dramatic subjects while maintaining strong stakes and dimensions beyond the surface level dilemma. If not for some solid performances (the chemistry between Stamp and Redgrave is fantastic), this film would have been an utter waste of time instead of a jolly, good waste of it.
