But “Danny Collins” is a movie after all, and one that on its own warm, fuzzy terms offers a few modest surprises. With his basic setup in place, Fogelman could have easily let things coast ...

Danny Collins has no intention of breaking new ground. The flirtation Danny carries on with hotel manager Mary Sinclair (Annette Bening) is pure boilerplate. But here’s the thing.

Photo courtesy of Hopper Stone / Bleecker Street Danny Collins Productions, LLC The son (the ever-reliable Bobby Cannavale), a struggling building contractor, gruffly tries to wave away his well ...

Imagine there's no movies like "Danny Collins." It's easy if you try. No Al Pacino to annoy us. Above us only sky. Pacino plays Collins, an over-the-hill rock star who's stuck singing his big hit ...

"Danny Collins" is about a rich and famous singer-songwriter sellout who's not unlike Neil Diamond, a guy who has cruised for decades on hits that the sing-along audience basically performs for him.

It's 1971 and singer/songwriter Danny Collins (Eric Michael Roy) has made a remarkable first album. In an interview, he's asked who has inspired him. John Lennon, he says.

In “Danny Collins,” Annette Bening, above, is a hotel manager who becomes Danny’s conscience. Left: Bobby Cannavale, Giselle Eisenberg and Jennifer Garner play Danny’s family.

— Danny Collins is no more than adequate. Adversity scales down the big star into an ordinary guy struggling to step up for the common hurts and losses we all face.

What a pleasure to see Al Pacino cut loose in Danny Collins, having fun acting again. Not that he hasn't enjoyed performing, but sitting through much of his past decade of movie work has been a chore.