Capsule reviews for May 1

Gerontophilia

Somehow both creepy and poignant, the emotions run the gamut in this oddball Canadian comedy about a gay teenager (Pier-Gabriel Lajoie) with a fetish for the elderly whose new job at a nursing home brings him into contact with a patient (Walter Borden) who causes him to act on his impulses by taking the old man on a road trip for their mutual benefit. The film tones down the campy tendencies of director Bruce LaBruce (The Raspberry Reich), although he still playfully tackles sexual taboos. While it gets credit for audacity, however, the film suffers from amateurish performances and ignores the ethical ramifications of its characters’ behavior. (Not rated, 82 minutes).

Iris

There might not be that much insight, but there certainly is plenty of geriatric spunk in this portrait by legendary documentarian Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens) of Iris Apfel, the 93-year-old New York fashion maven still attempting to inspire younger generations to get creative with their designs. Meant first and foremost as a tribute to free-spirited longevity, Maysles’ final film chronicles Apfel’s early life and decades spent influencing the Manhattan social scene, and her flamboyant and outspoken personality gives the material a breezy charm. Those less familiar with its subject might wish for a deeper explanation behind the significance of her bold fashion choices. (Not rated, 78 minutes).

Ride

For a while, the performances keep afloat this comedy about family bonding with a surfboard, but eventually it drowns in a sea of manipulative melodrama. Brenton Thwaites (The Giver) stars as an aspiring Manhattan novelist who drops out of college to become a surfer in California, in part to distance himself from his overbearing mother (Helen Hunt), an editor and control freak. Once mom finds out, she heads to Los Angeles and hits the waves in a clumsy attempt to reconcile. Despite an ill-conceived premise, the screenplay by Hunt, who also directed, has its moments. But the bickering quickly grows tiresome and cancels any emotional investment. (Rated R, 93 minutes).