Some Kind of Heaven -- a review
 

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.

Hasn’t this been discussed before?

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

so true

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

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.

NY Times funded anti TV propaganda.

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

Some Kind of Heaven - Wikipedia

Maybe, I will take a look at it.

Reality
 

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

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.

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:

And the rehash begins. Old and stale is right!

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