“Disney World for Retirees”

If you’re curious about what it’s like to live in a 55+ retirement community, don’t miss  “Some Kind of Heaven,” a new documentary film about life at The Villages in Florida. Although highly sensationalized, the movie received rave reviews at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. On the surface, “Some Kind of Heaven” is about living the dream of never-ending good times with all the friends, sports and activities you could hope for.

More than 135,000 people live at The Villages, the largest 55+ plus community in the country as reported in an earlier post. Days are filled with hours at the swimming pools, golf (The Villages offers 50 courses), shopping, fitness classes, yoga, meditation and more. Nights come alive with musical entertainment, dancing, first-run movies and dining. Restaurants range from high-end steak houses to casual bistros.

But beneath the veneer of what many call the “Disney World for Retirees” lurks a stark reality for four residents featured in the movie. From Barbara, a widow seeking love and romance, to Dennis, an 82-year-old bachelor living out of a van parked illegally at the community, we get a glimpse of real life at the retirement community. All the pickleball, line dancing, volleyball, clubs and pubs can’t disguise the fact that people are people no matter how old you are or where you live.

“Some Kind of Heaven” has received a 93 percent early approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Positive reviews from the Washington Post, Hollywood Reporter and others have also been posted.

In addition to movie theaters, the film is available through select video streaming services including YouTube, Amazon Video and Redbox as well as On Demand services such as Cox and Spectrum. The film plays for one hour and 21 minutes.