Going in Style
Going in Style is a baffling blend of tones that ultimately plays as a harmless piece of fluff devoid of any significant stakes.
Joe ( Michael Caine ) , Willie ( Morgan Freeman ) , and Al ( Alan Arkin ) are three womb-to-tomb friends who spent decennary working together for a steel factory . Towards the closing of their sprightliness , each one is worse for wear and has a sort of upshot to dispense with , which only become exacerbated when they learn their pensions are being dissolved as the companionship transition from America to Vietnam . The tidings could not come at a worse potential time for Joe , who is in danger of losing his house after failing to meet his rising mortgage monetary value .
One day while at the cant to endeavor to pay off his position , Joe witness a extremely - successful robbery , where a chemical group of masked crook abscond with meg of dollar and go away without a trace , leaving the authorities running in circles . Impressed by what he see , Joe get a wild idea : orchestrate a bank robbery of his own to steal his pension payments back from the very banking company that ’s taking them from him . Recruiting Willie and Al to his drive , the senior citizens agree to go through with the job so they can continue to support their families financially .
Going in Styleis a remaking of a lesser - known 1979 motion-picture show of the same name that starred George Burns , Art Carney , and Lee Strasberg . Whereas that motion-picture show was more of a drama with comedic element , the 2017 version strives to be a loose - hearted laugher placing its own squad of acclaimed actors in the limelight for one last hooray . Despite the talents of the three leads , the motion-picture show is n’t always successful in carrying out its goal . go in Styleis a baffling blending of tones that in the end plays as a harmless piece of frippery destitute of any significant stake .
Director Zach Braff ’s plan of attack is very much a mixed bag . The formerScrubsstar looks to combine the sport caper elements of Steven Soderbergh’sOcean ’s Eleven(where famous actors robbed a casino for our own amusement ) against the backdrop of some rather serious real - world progeny reminiscent of last year ’s Oscar - nominated dramaHell or high-pitched Water . The impulsive fantasy of a lot of geezers organize a heist clash against pressing issue like foreclosures and health concerns . This is a trouble because Braff slant far too hard on the comedy , make directorial choices that run down the film of any variety of meaningful emotional impact . go in Styleis a bit too wacky and hokey for its own goodness , when it would have benefitted from injecting some sting satire that throw a visible light on problem plaguing society , instead of being just a wild ride .
As expected , Caine , Freeman , and Arkin are the highlights of the film , raise it as much as they can with their natural screen presence and abilities . Nobody is run to count these performances among the good in any of their acclaimed careers , but the three Oscar winners do n’t send it in and show why they ’re professional . They process great together as a grouping , demonstrating the easygoing chemistry one would imagine longtime friends would have . Of the three , Caine ’s Joe is more or less the primary protagonist , flummox some key emotional beats that involve his family he desperately cares for . Arkin does another comic riff on his usual " grumpy curmudgeon " pilot , and Freeman strike a nice balance between the comedy and drama . Audiences should be entertain by watch the legends in action , even if they ’re not breaking any raw priming coat .
alas , the support hurl is badly underwritten . The hand by Theodore Melfi truly gives Joe , Willie , and Al most of the filmdom time , but everyone else is but a breed character without much to contribute . Matt Dillon plays FBI agentive role Hammer , who investigate the bank robbery , but he ’s nothing more than a two - dimensional foil for the main work party and come across as a cliché . The same can be said for John Ortiz ’s Jesus , who is a generic career criminal that agrees to aid the old - timers out with their undertaking . Ann - Margaret is wasted in a unthankful role as Al ’s love interest Annie - a subplot that feels largely unneeded and feels unearned by the flick ’s closing . Arkin and Margaret ’s flirt feels more awkward than mellisonant and does n’t supply much to the final product . Kenan Thompson as a food market story manager is perhaps the most memorable side character reference who delivers the biggest laughs , but his part is far too abbreviated to make up for other shortcoming .
Another infirm aspect of the screenplay is its over - reliance on " old people jokes " that at time come across as mock than wholesome . An unfortunate running jest involving Christopher Lloyd ’s Milton is a noted representative of this , and some may feel uncomfortable with what Braff and Melfi are propose they laugh at . This remake also lacks the thematic subtext about coming to terms with one ’s advancing age and find peace in your final day , so there is n’t a whole mess for viewers to get invest in . The story , while briskly paced , simply goes through the move and constantly choose the safe path , making the end ensue predictable and mundane . There ’s nothing improper with make a crowd - pleaser , butGoing in Styledoesn’t own the spectacular sensibilities take to be a memorable experience .
In the closing , Going in Styleis just fine for what it is , but give the masses involved , it could have been a little more . Caine , Freeman , and Arkin are as biz as ever , but they are dragged down by a bizarre approach to the legal proceeding that make it seem more like a drollery sketch than an real caper photographic film . go - unvoiced buff of the chief thespian could find some enjoyment out of it ( especially if they are of a sure geezerhood ) , but with minimal stakes and slight laughs to be had , Going in Styleseems like a missed chance instead of a worthwhile comedy .
Trailer
Going in Styleis now act in U.S. theaters . It runs 96 minutes and is rated PG-13 for drug content , language , and some implicative textile .
Desperate to make up the bills and come through for their hump I , three womb-to-tomb pal risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to pink off the very banking company that absconded with their money .
Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin in Going in Style
Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin in Going in Style
