Danny DeVito is the sweetest gay curmudgeon. This surprising and totally delightful new short movie that he has directed and stars in, is the tale of two elderly men residing in a living-assisted home, who are shocked to find true love in the final chapter of their lives. It also features the last performance of the late New York actor David Margulies, who died in January after battling a long illness.
The simple story takes place one day as Ralph ‘s (Margulies) unlucky-in-love granddaughter Robin (Lucy DeVito) comes for what seems like an ordinary visit. A grumpy curmudgeon by nature, he has absolutely no idea about the surprise she has in store for him which will re-unite him with Jackie (DeVito) who had been moved to a hospital since he fell and broke his hip.
DeVito and Margulies had known each other since 1968 when they performed in off-Broadway plays together at the Sheridan Square Playhouse, and the late actor also performed with Danny’s daughter Lucy at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in Manhattan. The Devito’s , including son Jake, saw Joshua Conkel’s one act play starring Margulies at the Ensemble four years ago and agreed to turn it into a movie.
Curmudgeons premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, and has just had a sold-out screening at London’s BFI Film Festival. Now the people at Vimeo have made it one of their staff picks and the movie can be seen for free on their site.