At home for the holidays

Vanessa Redgrave (left) and Hayley Atwell in ''How About You,'' based on the novel by Maeve Binchy.

"How About You" is based on a Maeve Binchy story about the residents of an Irish retirement home. But you'll have to forgive the rambunctious antics that, on occasion, make it seem like extra-strength "Grumpy Old Men." The thrown food accessorizes with the thrown tantrums, and they're as aggravating to us as they are to the staff.

As it turns out, the idea of Vanessa Redgrave having a hissy fit is not quite as fun as watching her perform one. She plays Georgia, the least sober resident, and Georgia is racist, grouchy ("Get back in my room and find my earring!"), and overdressed. The idea of Redgrave in a turban is also more entertaining that the actuality. But she remains committed to her prop.

This small, noisy movie, directed by Anthony Byrne and adapted by Jean Pasley, changes its tune come Christmas time. The home's proprietress (Orla Brady) turns the place and its four terrors - Redgrave, the Falstaffian Joss Ackland, and, as a curly-haired sister act, Brenda Fricker and Imelda Staunton - over to her unserious little sibling (Hayley Atwell). The oldsters run her ragged for a few scenes, but eventually the young woman gives them the business right back. The harrumphing ceases. The healing begins. It's all terribly sentimental without being truly terrible.

The movie, whose title comes from the standard ("I like New York in June/ How about you?"), manages to keep its sadness in the background for a lot of the runtime. Some early scenes with the late Joan O'Hara as the most serene resident capture the dolorous eloquence in Binchy's writing. Otherwise, the yuletide cheer goes a long way to keep you from noticing how alone these people are. Everyone else at the facility has gone home for the holiday. The four stars remain because they have no one else. A field trip to the market and later a pub, where everybody shares a little piece of themselves, is like a night in heaven - or group therapy. They're special, we discover, even if the movie isn't.

Wesley Morris can be reached at wmorris@globe.com.