Review of Going in Style (1979) by Greatmartin — 06 Apr 2017

Before you walk into “Going In Style” you know what to expect: jokes about the aches and pains of old age, sex, wisecracks about slowing down, the old men ragging on each other, their wanting to pass their wisdom on to younger people who don’t want to hear it and so on.

You will also experience sitting back and enjoying old ‘friends’ like Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin not to forget Ann-Margret. It has been 51 years since Caine made “Alfie” with that wink in his eye and a smile, enjoying his character just as he does in this movie with, maybe, a little more gray hair and wrinkles in his face. He and his partners in crime, Freeman & Arkin play off and to each other like the pros they are.

Like watching Shirley MacLaine last week in “The Last Word” the more affection for the performers you bring to the movie the more you will enjoy it.

It was good seeing Matt Dillon again and hope to see him in 20 years with the same cache the old guys have. While it was good seeing Ann-Margret I wish they had given her a little of the dancing to do. The only embarrassment to me in the movie was Christopher Lloyd but whether that the was the role, the acting, the writing or the directing it was hard to tell.

This weekend will be a battle between the openings of this old folks picture and the new Smurf movie.