ABSTRACT
As the Boomers become the Social Security seniors set, the genre of older love stories is experiencing a revival. Something's Gotta Give revitalized Diane Keaton as a romantic leading lady at the age of 57, here paired with Jack Nicholson, then 66. One of the things that makes old love stories work is strength of character. These are strong, intelligent, capable people for the most part. Nothing whiny or pitiful about them. They just happen to be old. One think if they were weak, or, God help them, self-pitying these stories would not work. They choose each other because they fall in love, not because anything at all is better than a lonely, miserable dotage. The Lion in Winter is a great example of two powerful, brilliant, charismatic characters who are absolutely perfectly matched. Old love stories are proving to be a viable and commercial niche.
