Most actors reach a point in their careers where they do one of two things; star in a series of unfunny comedies that pale in comparison to their earlier works (“Little Fockers,” “Parental Guidance,” “Daddy Day Care”) or they star in a series of smaller, independent films, allowing them to stretch their acting legs (“Everything Must Go,” “Broken Flowers”).
Starring three celebrated, yet old, actors: Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin & Michael Caine and with a talented director (Zach Braff, star of “Scrubs” and director of seven “Scrubs” episodes, “Garden State” and “Wish You Were Here”), can the heist comedy “Going in Style” break the streak of bad films by older actors? Or is it just stealing your attention?
The plot is simple. A remake of the 1979 film, it follows three elderly friends who decide to rob a bank after their place of employment takes away their pensions. This simple premise is lived up a bit by some small moments of detail that add a more personal aim to their goals.
Its three leads, Arkin, Freeman and Caine all bring a level of charm to the movie that no other group could. Arkin dispenses his typical snarky attitude, while Freeman wishes his family across the country would visit. The clear star l Caine. He brings the most bravado, he comes up with the plan and he takes charge for most of the film.
Charming is the word to describe the film and its cast. Everyone has this kind of happy go lucky attitude that is sorely missing in cinema these days. The movie has no real malice or hate at its core. It just wants to see these people end up happy.
The problems start to come into effect around a third of the way in. The plot slows considerably and jokes start to fall flat. In the modernizing of the film, plenty of subplots were added. They are all written and acted fine, but they just drag out the pace and very few have any real meaning in the grand scheme of the film.
Seeing how the heist is played out is exceptionally tense and wonderful; it's easily the best part of the film. “Going in Style” does suffer from multiple ending disorder, where you think it will end and then doesn’t. Not that its bad, the characters and the actors portraying them are charming, just a bit annoying.
“Going in Style” may be unoriginal and not the funniest comedy, but it survives on its simplicity, its charming cast and its generally good natured core. There’s a big sweet heart at the center of the movie, kind of like a delicious hard candy, enjoyable, just not particularly memorable. 3/5
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Village Roadshow Pictures, and De Line Pictures.
