“Boulevard,” Robin Williams’ final film, is a sturdy, sad-faced melodrama about a repressed man finally accepting his sexuality at 60.
Well-intentioned, but predictable and instantly dated, it’s worth watching for his performance opposite Kathy Baker. They play a married couple, one of whom knows they’re living a lie and is tired of it, the other willing to turn a blind eye to the truth that is staring her in the face.
Nolan (Williams) is a mild-mannered banker, eager to not offend and not willing to take offense when his crusty boss (Henry Haggard) makes resigned wisecracks as he signs off on a home loan for a gay couple.
Nolan doesn’t rock the boat, which has him in line for a promotion. He looks in on his catatonic, institutionalized Dad “because that’s what you’re supposed to do.” He doesn’t kick up a fuss when the nurses won’t let him offer a carbonated drink to the old man.
He is best friends with his wife, Joy (Baker). He cooks, she forgets to buy the wine. But the separate bedrooms of their cozy marriage speak volumes. There’s no joy here for him.
Chance throws the gay hustler Leo (Robert Aguire) into Nolan’s path on a boulevard near home. Their awkward, almost chaste encounters uncork something in Nolan, who falls — hard — for the young guy with the hateful, homophobic pimp (Giles Matthey).
We see where this brief film is going long before it gets there — the problems at home and at work, Nolan’s deeper involvement with a guy too young to want anything to do with him that doesn’t involve using him in some financial way.
Williams gave another in a long line of sensitive portrayals in the lead role. But this material is tired, this story twenty years removed from the cutting edge. Aside from a couple of violent confrontations, there’s little here to hold our interest. So Williams makes his exit in yet another movie that wasn’t good enough for him.
Judging from the casts he’s been able to land for his various failed films (“A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,””Fighting,””Son of No One”), director Dito Montiel must have limitless charm and powers of persuasion, which make actors forget how feeble his finished films always turn out.

MPAA Rating: R for language and sexual content.

Cast: Robin Williams, Kathy Baker, Roberto Aguire, Bob Odenkirk
Credits: Directed by Dito Montiel, script by Douglas Soesbe. A Starz release.

Running time: 1:26