In My Old Lady, Maggie Smith is too crafty for Kevin Kline

MOVIE review: No one’s going to mistake My Old Lady for Let’s Be Cops in this or any other lifetime.

Mathilde (Maggie Smith) in a scene from film MY OLD LADY, directed by Israel Horovitz. In cinemas November 13, 2014. An Entertainment One Films release.

This is sensible, straightforward mature-age viewing, devoid of dumb jokes, cheap thrills or goofy gimmicks.

All you will get for the price of your ticket are three impeccably acted performances, and a simple story very well told.

The setting is Paris. New arrival Jim (Kevin Kline) isn’t here for the scenery. This 57-year-old American writer is down to his last dollar, and is only in town for as long as it will take to claim an inheritance from his late father.

Jim is under the impression that Dad’s Paris apartment is his for the selling. This is not exactly the case.

Mathias (Kevin Kline) in a scene from My Old Lady. Picture: Supplied

A quirk of French real estate law applying to properties of a certain age means that Jim cannot assume full ownership of the posh pad until its current resident deigns to depart. Or drops dead.

Even though the formidable Madame Girard (Maggie Smith) is well into her 90s, she doesn’t look to be the type who will be turning her toes up any time soon.

What’s more, Madame Girard has no intention of leaving. She knew Jim’s father back in the day.

This would not have been what her old friend wanted.

All of this leaves Jim in a most uncomfortable position. That unease is only set to increase once Madame Girard’s dutifully antagonistic daughter Chloe (Kristin Scott Thomas) moves to fortify her mother’s defences.

Don’t go thinking My Old Lady is about to settle for a trite, easygoing brand of light comedy for its duration.

There is a growing darkness casting a shadow on proceedings that will deliver much more than the deeds to that fancy old apartment.

Mathias (Kevin Kline) and Mathilde (Maggie Smith) in a scene from My Old Lady. Picture: Supplied

> MY OLD LADY [M]

Rating: 3/5

Director: Israel Horovitz (feature debut)

Starring: Kevin Kline, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas

“Every right to act her age”

Originally published as In My Old Lady, Maggie Smith is too crafty for Kevin Kline