Going In Style
There are movies for every age
group. The Exotic Marigold Hotel is not a movie made for a teenager unless said
teenager has a crush on Judi Dench and who wouldn’t? Saucy minx. I bet she gums
with the best of them... this review is getting off to an odd octoerotic start.
What I mean to say is that there are movies made for young kids, teenagers,
young adults, adults, and old people. Going in Style is one of the last group.
Starring Michael “The size of a tangerine” Caine, Morgan “Used to call me crazy
Joe, now they can call me Batman” Freeman and Alan “My Son is Adam” Arkin (I’d
say more about him but I’ve never really seen him in a quotable role) as a
group of friends who’ve been together for years through everything. Now they
are at financial crises and resort to robbing a bank (a corrupt and ethically
dubious bank).
There isn’t a lot more plot to
this movie. Old men are broke, man witnesses a bank robbery, man is screwed out
of pension and home, man enlists friends to rob bank... I’m reasonably sure you
can finish that breakdown. It isn’t the most intricate of plots. The true
greatness is in the performances and the jokes about old men. That’s really all
there is. Michael Caine is good not fantastic... it’s no Alfred. Morgan Freeman
is good but at this point I think he just plays Morgan Freeman and if the
director asks him to do something he does it again...as Morgan Freeman. Alan
Arkin is grumpy and outraged.
The film is directed by Zack
Braff. I can’t say it has the same feel as Garden State but again, he isn’t
going out trying to make a movie for his age bracket. It’s The Grand Marigold
Something’s Gotta Give bank robbery movie. It checks the boxes. It’s fun, it
makes you laugh, you like the characters and hate the bank manager. It’s movie
by numbers and will probably do well. I liked the idea of it well enough to
spend my money on it and I didn’t feel I got ripped off. I also didn’t feel I
got a game changer of a movie. It was.
Mr. Unhappy Sez: In the world of
old and young, this movie comes in at meh...
Stream this movie Instead
Garden State
Zach Braff was coming out of
Scrubs and feeling like a bad ass when he directed this indie gem. Natalie
Portman is a troubled but normal girl and Zach Braff was a depressed manchild
looking for his feelings in a over medicated world. When Braff’s mother dies,
he returns home for the funeral and meets Portman. A weekend ensues that bonds
them together (forever? Who knows?) This movie is a absolute masterpiece and
one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s charming and smart while straddling
the line between romantic and serious as well. The very real chemistry between
Braff and Portman makes the movie as much as the story does. If you want a
great film that takes you through life of a twenty something man trying to find
himself Garden State delivers. The great musical choices move the plot along
and create atmosphere while defining this movie for a generation. If you want
to see a movie where Zach Braff achieves his goals and surpasses expectations this
is it. To quote Method Man.... Who just saw some titties?! Ok so everybody calm
the fuck down!
Mr Unhappy sez: I didn’t need to
say that last bit...but I wanted to.
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