Some Kind of Heaven -- a review

[zendog3]

Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.

[Bogie Shooter]

Hasn’t this been discussed before?

[manaboutown]

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[Stu from NYC]

Hasn’t this been discussed before?

so true

[manaboutown]

This film was initially released 1/26/2020 and has been hashed and rehashed on TOTV ad nauseam.

[Keefelane66]

Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.
How dare you bring up a subject against the consensus of may Villagers you’ll loose every time Some consider this Community a Cult.

[Laker14]

How dare you bring up a subject against the consensus of may Villagers you’ll loose every time Some consider this Community a Cult.

uhh.....nobody posted a thing in the responses about the content of the movie, just that the topic is old and stale.

[Bilyclub]

Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.

NY Times funded anti TV propaganda.

[Mortal1]

dear lord...deliver us from those who think their opinion is the proper one.

[Taltarzac725]

Some Kind of Heaven - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Kind_of_Heaven)

Maybe, I will take a look at it.

[me4vt]

Reality on real Life in the Villages, how dare them!!




Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.

[Byte1]

I only viewed it because it was free to me. I would not pay a quarter to see the thing. Not because it was negative about the town(?) I live in, but because it portrays it's characters as pitiful and representative of a TV norm. They are/were not the norm in TV. It is only one SMALL view of the Villages, made by someone that obviously or evidently has an agenda against TV. I would dissuade anyone from viewing the film, but I would definitely advise them to come and see for themselves. TV was not meant to be a mental institution for the downtrodden or hopeless. It does not vet those that wish to move here and filter out the unwanted. It merely offers a decent place to live for a demographic that prefers to gather with those of same interests and similar lifestyles. I have lived all over the world, but have now settled here for several reasons that I won't go into.
Almost Heaven gives a negative and dark version of life in the Villages. It isn't wrong, just a small blemish in a decent place that a very few wish to disparage. Jealousy? Perhaps. Political bias against a majority of conservative believers? Perhaps. Or, just a means to draw attention or make money by someone that found a lucrative opportunity.
As for The Villages advertising only the positive aspects of this community, I have never known McDonald's to show the negative such as a disclaimer that their product may cause heart disease or obesity. Perhaps The Villages should have a disclaimer that golf may cause back injuries and shoulder stress. Maybe they should warn folks that living here may incur dog poop in their yards from inconsiderate pet owners, or slow drivers by the elderly residents.
Almost Heaven would not be worth watching as entertainment. I was just curious due to other threads about it on here and had the time to view it. Time wasted in my opinion. The Villages is NOT heaven. Heaven can wait (no pun intended). The Villages is just a nice place to live with like minded (in most cases) folks of the same generation (old codgers) that wish some piece and quiet or maybe a lifestyle that is not limited to the non-work days/non-school days of up North.
It seems that many (younger?) folks want seniors to be quiet and out of sight, or just pass from life peacefully and conveniently so as not bothersome to their busy lives.
If you enjoy dark, negative movies then Almost Heaven might suit your purpose. But, remember that it is not a good example of the Villages life and should not be even considered if thinking of making a move to live here. 150 thousand people must have seen something good about this place or it would not be in a constant flux of expansion.

[Vermilion Villager]

I did watch it. Maybe one of the few of us who actually did.
The movie was advertised as a documentary. Spoiler alert..It's not.
3 main characters.
Character one is a guy in late 70's who is living in his van. His goal is to find a rich widow. Unfortunatly all of them easily see thru is ruse and at the end of this, surprise....he's still living in his van.
Character two centered around a couple also in their 70's. She is what I would call a normal Villager. However she is married to basically a drug addict. Most of their story centers around his drug problems and his pending court date on drug charges.
Character three is a nice shy woman who is widowed. Her story centers around her struggles to socialize in a community where most are married there are many more single women than men.
So 150,000 Villagers....and somehow this is a snapshot of life here?!?!? To be honest, other than the widow I've never met any characters like what was portrayed in this...whatever it was. Maybe I need to get out more! :ohdear:

[Bogie Shooter]

And the rehash begins. Old and stale is right!

[rockyhyder]

I only viewed it because it was free to me. I would not pay a quarter to see the thing. Not because it was negative about the town(?) I live in, but because it portrays it's characters as pitiful and representative of a TV norm. They are/were not the norm in TV. It is only one SMALL view of the Villages, made by someone that obviously or evidently has an agenda against TV. I would dissuade anyone from viewing the film, but I would definitely advise them to come and see for themselves. TV was not meant to be a mental institution for the downtrodden or hopeless. It does not vet those that wish to move here and filter out the unwanted. It merely offers a decent place to live for a demographic that prefers to gather with those of same interests and similar lifestyles. I have lived all over the world, but have now settled here for several reasons that I won't go into.
Almost Heaven gives a negative and dark version of life in the Villages. It isn't wrong, just a small blemish in a decent place that a very few wish to disparage. Jealousy? Perhaps. Political bias against a majority of conservative believers? Perhaps. Or, just a means to draw attention or make money by someone that found a lucrative opportunity.
As for The Villages advertising only the positive aspects of this community, I have never known McDonald's to show the negative such as a disclaimer that their product may cause heart disease or obesity. Perhaps The Villages should have a disclaimer that golf may cause back injuries and shoulder stress. Maybe they should warn folks that living here may incur dog poop in their yards from inconsiderate pet owners, or slow drivers by the elderly residents.
Almost Heaven would not be worth watching as entertainment. I was just curious due to other threads about it on here and had the time to view it. Time wasted in my opinion. The Villages is NOT heaven. Heaven can wait (no pun intended). The Villages is just a nice place to live with like minded (in most cases) folks of the same generation (old codgers) that wish some piece and quiet or maybe a lifestyle that is not limited to the non-work days/non-school days of up North.
It seems that many (younger?) folks want seniors to be quiet and out of sight, or just pass from life peacefully and conveniently so as not bothersome to their busy lives.
If you enjoy dark, negative movies then Almost Heaven might suit your purpose. But, remember that it is not a good example of the Villages life and should not be even considered if thinking of making a move to live here. 150 thousand people must have seen something good about this place or it would not be in a constant flux of expansion.

We’ll stated! Although I have shared the video with a few select people, those whom I’d prefer to stay where they are.

[rockyhyder]

I have found “Some Kind of Heaven” to be a useful tool for those acquaintances whom I’d prefer remain in their current location.

[Spalumbos62]

I did watch it. Maybe one of the few of us who actually did.
The movie was advertised as a documentary. Spoiler alert..It's not.
3 main characters.
Character one is a guy in late 70's who is living in his van. His goal is to find a rich widow. Unfortunatly all of them easily see thru is ruse and at the end of this, surprise....he's still living in his van.
Character two centered around a couple also in their 70's. She is what I would call a normal Villager. However she is married to basically a drug addict. Most of their story centers around his drug problems and his pending court date on drug charges.
Character three is a nice shy woman who is widowed. Her story centers around her struggles to socialize in a community where most are married there are many more single women than men.
So 150,000 Villagers....and somehow this is a snapshot of life here?!?!? To be honest, other than the widow I've never met any characters like what was portrayed in this...whatever it was. Maybe I need to get out more! :ohdear:

I saw the movie...thought it was interesting. To me... the most real life one was the widow...I could only imagine this situation is common here. There's a big difference, I'd imagine, in losing your spouse and then heading to TV to "start again" and living here as a couple and losing a spouse. She was so lonely, it was so hard for her to feel accepted, made my heart hurt...she was very similar to my neighbor.

The guy in the van...yes, I agree there are probably allot of "this fellow" out there...in fact, I swear I saw him picking up a woman last week at City Fire..very uncomfortable to witness...from meeting to tongues down the throat within 2 hours....all I could think of was covid.

Then the druggy...let's face it we all know him...maybe not to that degree....but the sports injuries leading to a few too many pain killers...or else my other neighbor that smokes nonstop, has COPD, throws back his meds of 10 pills in one swallow and runs to happy hour literally 1hr after his last hospital release.

So maybe their stories are not exactly the same....but its out there.

[hypart]

I loved the woman in the film. Her story was gripping and touching. I thought the movie was good. I don't think it was negative about TV. The documentary followed 3 characters in TV. I don't know why anyone would confuse that with 150,000 others here.

[Speedie]

Yawn. No interest now or before. I like it here or else I would leave

[rsmurano]

TV is Disneyland for seniors! Everybody has some kind of story, they should, they are 55+ years old. There are a lot of people in TV that could have moved anywhere because they don't take advantage of any of the amenities we have here, and these are the people that tend to talk negative about it. If you are able to get up out of your seat and participate in any of the 100's of activities TV offers, you will think this is Disneyland.

[Dennys37Packard]

And it isn’t a story about The Villages per say, it’s more a story of the different lives of people with struggles that HAPPEN to live in The Villages. Get over it

[midiwiz]

dear lord...deliver us from those who think their opinion is the proper one.

that will never happen around here - ever

[DaleDivine]

I have found “Some Kind of Heaven” to be a useful tool for those acquaintances whom I’d prefer remain in their current location.

My thoughts exactly...
:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[Luggage]

is anything fair or balanced ? - Film makers like news channels have differing viewpoints ... you don't like it since your view is different/.

Would it been a better documentary if only the villages were praised ?

We have good people and bad people here - those that struggle and those that have never crossed at a red light. Life happens .

Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.

[Happydaz]

Another 20 something year old writing a hit piece on The Villages. Where do they go to do interviews? They go where any 20 year old goes at night, to a bar. There they interview bar patrons who are the only people who stay up past 9 PM. Guess what, these drinkers have sad stories to tell and they are not happy with their lives. The other 99.9 % of us Villagers are home asleep looking forward to getting up early to golf, bike, walk, quilt, go to the gym, mow the lawn, face time with our family, etc,! We are the most normal group of happy people you will find anywhere. That doesn’t make for a sensational story but that is the truth.

[Petersweeney]

The death rate is way too high…..

[ThirdOfFive]

The death rate is way too high…..
Heh. Back in the day I was asked "do people die often over a "X" nursing home"? To which I replied "as far as I know, most of 'em only die once".

We're all passengers on that one-way train and the end of the line gets closer by the day. I'm very thankful that my particular trip can be taken as a resident of The Villages.

[jrref]

These stories can happen anywhere when people are older in life. I think the point of the movie is that it can even happen in the Villages but i don't believe anyone ever says that it doesn't.

[Langwelld]

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 93% based on 84 reviews, with an average of 7.7/10 as of 10 October 2021. The website's critics consensus reads: "Some Kind of Heaven could have gone deeper into its subject, but it remains a breezily entertaining look at some interesting people."Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.

[rbmansfield]

I only viewed it because it was free to me. I would not pay a quarter to see the thing. Not because it was negative about the town(?) I live in, but because it portrays it's characters as pitiful and representative of a TV norm. They are/were not the norm in TV. It is only one SMALL view of the Villages, made by someone that obviously or evidently has an agenda against TV. I would dissuade anyone from viewing the film, but I would definitely advise them to come and see for themselves. TV was not meant to be a mental institution for the downtrodden or hopeless. It does not vet those that wish to move here and filter out the unwanted. It merely offers a decent place to live for a demographic that prefers to gather with those of same interests and similar lifestyles. I have lived all over the world, but have now settled here for several reasons that I won't go into.
Almost Heaven gives a negative and dark version of life in the Villages. It isn't wrong, just a small blemish in a decent place that a very few wish to disparage. Jealousy? Perhaps. Political bias against a majority of conservative believers? Perhaps. Or, just a means to draw attention or make money by someone that found a lucrative opportunity.
As for The Villages advertising only the positive aspects of this community, I have never known McDonald's to show the negative such as a disclaimer that their product may cause heart disease or obesity. Perhaps The Villages should have a disclaimer that golf may cause back injuries and shoulder stress. Maybe they should warn folks that living here may incur dog poop in their yards from inconsiderate pet owners, or slow drivers by the elderly residents.
Almost Heaven would not be worth watching as entertainment. I was just curious due to other threads about it on here and had the time to view it. Time wasted in my opinion. The Villages is NOT heaven. Heaven can wait (no pun intended). The Villages is just a nice place to live with like minded (in most cases) folks of the same generation (old codgers) that wish some piece and quiet or maybe a lifestyle that is not limited to the non-work days/non-school days of up North.
It seems that many (younger?) folks want seniors to be quiet and out of sight, or just pass from life peacefully and conveniently so as not bothersome to their busy lives.
If you enjoy dark, negative movies then Almost Heaven might suit your purpose. But, remember that it is not a good example of the Villages life and should not be even considered if thinking of making a move to live here. 150 thousand people must have seen something good about this place or it would not be in a constant flux of expansion.

Best revue yet of this slanted film. Kudo to you Byte1.

[Boomer]

Oh fer gosh sake. . .that movie is composed of vignettes, sometimes called “slice of life” writing, and it is about later life. The Villages is merely the setting, probably chosen because it has the highest profile of any retirement community anywhere and it is easy to find stories here.

It is about a handful of aging boomers who told their stories to a camera. (I think maybe the filmmaker wanted it to be the next “Nomadland.”)

We boomers have been watched for our entire lives. Always seen, observed. We were born as the “Great Expectations,” due to the times. We affected everything. Our demographic has been called “The Pig in the Python.” (Remember that old picture — I think in Nat Geo — of a python that had swallowed a pig and it was working its way throoooooogh that snake.)

Now, the elder boomers have reached 75 and counting. But we are still highly visible. (Just ask TV marketing. The tail end of the boom is now starting to arrive here.)

They built schools for us.

We crowded the colleges — and we were not saddled with an obscenity of student loans.

We bought lots of houses, etc., etc. etc.

The government noticed when we started hitting SS and Medicare.

Now, some of us might be going to our 50th high school reunions.

We are still being looked at as we age — and guess what, we are not all the same. Geez.

Why take that little movie so personally?

And, speaking of causing great consternation in the land, I wonder when we will get to see that documentary made a year ago — “The Bubble.”

There is another documentary titled “The Bubble,” but that is an older one and is about Celebration, Florida. (You can’t copyright a title.)

Boomer — who refuses to drink Kool-Aid — that stuff ain’t real — and it can ruin your teeth — and I like my teeth. ;)

[daspiva]

Some Kind of Heaven is a documentary set in The Villages. To explain why we will not like it, compare it to the promotional videos narrated by Jennifer Parr. The promotional pieces show only happy, active seniors enjoying all the sports and entertainment the Villages has to offer. The Villages is almost heaven in these pieces, and the villagers are nearly angels.

As a writer, I understand that good stories require real and compelling characters in conflict trying to achieve some goal. So, Some Kind of Heaven shows golf carts, dancing at the square, pickleball in the sun – all the best features of The Villages. Still, it also offers real people dealing with the severe personal problems that confront people anywhere trying to navigate their way through life.

We may not like Some Kind of Heaven, not because we are ignorant of the personal struggles of some of our neighbors, but because we want our children, and even ourselves, to believe that we live in an Eden where bad things don’t happen to good people.

The documentary is not balanced news. How many men come to the villages living in a van looking for a wealthy, beautiful widow to take care of them? But it is a good story, well told. Unfortunately, that may not be the story people living in some kind of heaven want to hear.

I saw that same video and we just really should try to recognize a free loader when we see them.. They come from anywhere not just to TV .. But from any place. : ))

[Boomer]

I saw that same video and we just really should try to recognize a free loader when we see them.. They come from anywhere not just to TV .. But from any place. : ))



Yep. You are referring to that van guy in the movie, but there are also guys living in TV who are looking for “a nurse with a purse.”

And there are younger guys around looking for a SugarMomma.

But mostly, TV is a lot of regular decent people.

TV has all kinds though.

Boomer

[Bilyclub]

There is enough YouTube content people in TV to make an insider docudrama.

[Bay Kid]

Hollywood....

[JerryLBell]

My wife and I only recently watched this. If I recall from when I first heard about it, it was a documentary about The Villages. It isn't at all. It's three documentaries about 3 different people (or groups of people) and explores A) Modern Grieving, B) Modern Mental Health and C) Modern Poverty. And by "explores", I mean that it simply shows people experiencing them. These happen to take place in The Villages but they could have happened in any retirement community or any non-retirement community in the country. Properly edited and promoted, I think this would have been a decent documentary about three tough, depressing subjects.

The segments were prefaced by some snippets of life in The Villages that showed people doing things they love, but weirdly shot, edited and scored to make them seem eerie. I don't think the filmmaker likes The Villages but I don't imagine he or she likes retirement communities in general, any more than the author of the infamous Leisureville does.