On Golden Pond

This suffers from having an 80s soundtrack. However, the film surprisingly never gets *too* maudlin. The final scene with Henry Fonda is possibly the most perfect send-off in an actor's final film. Henry Fonda is now in the Hall of Fame for the "Old Curmudgeon Performances".

The elderly, with their blabbering, confused minds and putrid, pre-corpse smell, are stark reminders of our own mortality and of the meaninglessness of existence. Old age homes should not exist. Once their transformation from human being into symbol of decay is complete, they should be buried alive, as part of a community ritual, to purge and conquer this existential anxiety.

A tremendous feel good movie, that doesn't try to make anyone feel better about the idea of aging and inevitable death, but simply ends up accepting it without being morbid or sad. It's got a couple tear jerking moments, but always seems to move on anyway.

Based solely on this movie, old Henry Fonda is better than young Henry Fonda.

Two of the greatest film actors ever in their twilight film.

Fonda makes a great cranky old man, and with Hepburn as his counterpart they turn what could easily be forgettable sentimentality into a meaningful and entertaining look at old age. I'd rate it even higher if the direction was better and especially if the intrusive and unnecessary score were removed.

Very good little family film. Beautifully shot and acted by all those involved.

This easily could have been a forgotten dramedy, but the sheer talent of the leads drives this home as a believable slice of life.

The three leads are good enough to make this outing a memorable, emotional film. I think it's one that everyone can learn from, and I'll make sure to treasure it for the rest of my life.

This drama sets the bar for all others! A master class in acting and writing. Also, beautiful music and cinematography. A true classic.

Not really much of a movie, since it never transcends its stage origins, and the play itself is very sentimental. Also, the performances aren't really first-rate. All three of these strars have done better work.

surprisingly good

Beautifully acted if over sentimentalised story of the relationship between father and daughter. Henry and Jane Fonda brought much of their own relationship to the screen including it's notorious troubles - the effect is an honest, touching and charming film. Some of the last work seen from Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn. A genuinely charming family film.

A-

It has Jane Fonda in it. I hate Jane Fonda.

Damn near perfect movie. Highly entertaining yet no sex or violence

Ten years ago I wouldn't have even considered watching this movie and if made to do so I would have fallen asleep. Now that I'm getting older I'm discovering the value of this sort of story. It beats the hell out of gratuitous sex and violence. I'd like more movies like this one.

decent movie. jane fonda is awful, though.

Great classic

Two great actors deliver performances worth seeing in a story about aging. To really enjoy this film, wait till you have grandkids before watching.

english class

Great lead peformances.

It gets a bit icky now and then but the early scene between Henry Fonda and a terrific Dabney Coleman is great.

Good film.

I get that people like seeing two screen legends together here, and they do good stuff with second rate material. It's all just phony nonsense.

Norman (Henry Fonda) and Ethel (Katharine Hepburn) Thayer summer at their lake house on Golden Pond in New England; their discontented daughter (Jane Fonda) and step-grandson-to-be (Doug McKeon) soon factor into the mix. Fonda is moving in his depiction of frustrated aging, and more or less earned his Oscar; Hepburn too often falls into hammy preciousness, and didn't really deserve hers. The film as whole feels rather stagy and cutesy, but just enough moments work to make it digestible.

Good acting. Dated script.

Unfortunately I forgot to rate this fresh, right after I'd seen it in 2022. I remember it being an okay drama.

At times a tad dated but with always timely themes about aging, this works both as comedy and tearjerker. It sometimes falls on the wrong side of feeling overly emotionally manipulative, but usually not enough where you start feeling annoyed. It's elevated mainly by the leads in both of their final major films. The fact that Fonda (who is brilliant, touching, and often hilarious in this) died the next year makes it even more poignant. His Oscar was no lifetime achievement award; it was earned.

very good film

Katharine Hepburn singing Happy Birthday is about the most Hepburn thing I've ever seen. Both leads spend much of the film mean mugging, but there is enough heart to warrant the title of "swan song." Enjoyable early 80s Oscar bait.