There’s this beautiful thing we call love. A special connection that makes us people so unique in this world. It is, among many things, a transcendental phenomenon that stands the test of time. Never is that more the case than in Morgan Martini’s Never Too Old, a story about a senior gay couple looking towards their next big life decision.
Jesse’s (Rolando Zee) and Florio’s (Gregory Niebel) 45-year relationship has held strong over decades, but the topic of marriage has always been a point of contention. Jesse doesn’t want to go through with it; he has stood firm on this decision, and Florio has come to terms with it. Then, unexpectedly, a surprising and tragic string of events tests their resolve and finds Jesse reconsidering his stance.
The chemistry between Zee and Niebel crackles with the spark of a relationship with nearly 50 years of history. Regardless of the circumstances the actors find themselves in, their characters affection for each other remains unwavering. Whether it’s playful cooking evenings or serious, life-trajectory-altering discussions, Jesse and Florio stick by each other physically and spiritually. When words run out, their longing gazes are all we need to feel their true connection, remaining omnipresent throughout the rest of the short.
Never Too Old isn’t without some serious flaws, and they rear their heads quite early. The film begins with an establishing frame in bright daylight and immediately jumps to a dinner scene where night has evidently fallen outside. It feels jarring, and really, the entire film can too sometimes. The narrative suffers from smaller structural weaknesses, but the editing and inelegant use of cross-fade transitions drain the magic of each intimate moment. This prevents scenes from breathing properly, turning them into mere snapshots instead of a cohesive whole.
A moving testament to the power of love, Never Too Old is worth seeing for its outstanding leading men, despite its somewhat underwhelming technical execution.
