Going in Style

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Every now and then, I like to take a break from the hustle-bustle of "what's popular", and check out something that no one else is talking about. Here we have a modern remake of a 1979 film of the same name, that literally no one has ever brought up in any conversation I have ever had. This one stars Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin, as the original stars George Burns, Lee Strasburg, and Art Carney, respectively. This one was from Zach Braff; director of 'Garden State', and the original was from Martin Brest; director of 'Beverly Hills Cop', 'Midnight Run', 'Scent of a Woman' and 'Meet Joe Black'. So, it would be no surprise at all if people familiar with the original preferred it.

The story involves three friends; Joe (Caine), Willie (Freeman) and Albert (Arkin). After years of work, followed by retirement, the company they once worked for is bought out, and their pensions become frozen as part of the rebuild. Hit particularly hard by this are Joe and Willie. Joe discovers that he is about to lose his house, which would make him, his daughter and granddaughter homeless. Meanwhile, Willie finds out that his health isn't exactly 100% due to a bad kidney.

Albert, though living fairly comfortably, joins them for the sheer principal of it all. Together, the three life-long friends join forces to rob the very bank that is holding onto the pensions that by all rights belong to them.

Having not seen the original film, I can't really compare for myself. But I have to say that what I did see here, I actually enjoyed. It's another film that people seem kinda split on, but for the most part, it's reviews have been "so-so". I actually feel like "so-so" is a good way to describe the movie. It's not what you'd call an overall exciting movie, or knee-slapping hilarious. It has it's moments, and it's not at all boring. To be honest, I can't really think of anything particularly WRONG with the movie. I might be "wrong", myself or whatever, but it feels like a movie that's just easy to take for what it is; a light comedy about some old guys trying to rob a bank, and the guys are played by some big, and respectable names.

I kinda see this one as I see something like 'Last Vegas' in that, you just can't expect too much. It's a sit back, enjoy, and never mind the other reviews kinda movie. One particular review I read for it called the film "A hug from Grandpa", and that's a pretty good way to describe it. It's warm, you like the characters involved, and you wanna see them come out on top. This was just one of those movies I decidedly enjoyed for what it was.

3/5

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