BY BOB STRAUSS >MOVIE CRITIC

The little old English lady limps up to the microphone and talk/sings the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Everyone in the concert audience chuckles and applauds, as no doubt most in any theater showing the documentary "Young@Heart" will.

Of course. What's more adorable than a chorus of retirees belting out Sonic Youth tunes?

Director Stephen Walker milks this cute factor for all it's worth as he covers a season in the golden years of the Northampton, Mass.-
based Young@Heart singers. The British filmmaker also gets maximum poignancy out of the inevitable passings of a few aged members.

But we also get to know a dozen or so compelling individuals. And the film shows how hard it can be to get a roomful of geriatrics to properly sing songs that they basically hate - when they can remember the lyrics at all.

Choirmaster Bob Climan comes off as both a paragon of patience (he's worked with the group since 1982) and a tough taskmaster whose high standards are rarely met.

That said, the witty "rock videos" staged for the likes of the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" and the Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere" are truly impressive. And some of the stage performances, particularly a cover of Coldplay's "Fix You," earn the lump they'll put in your throat.

All that and scary driving, randy innuendo and difficulties with semi-modern technology. Plus health crises and a comeback or two. That "you'll laugh/you'll cry" business by the truckload, in other words, for those who dig that kind of thing.

Plus some - and let me emphasize, some - really good music.

Bob Strauss, (818) 713-3670
bob.strauss@dailynews.com