Going in Style (2017)

The idea sounds like irresistible slumming. Michael Cain, Alan Arkin, and Morgan Freeman in an "old man bank heist" film. Three cooler seniors of the screen would be hard to find. And it's directed by Zach Braff who has a hipster esthetic to his films so one would assume this isn't going to be your grandfather's Going in Style (a 1979 film starring George Burns). But then you go see it...

Um...

Turns out this remake of Going in Style is as "Grumpy Old Men" pedestrian as the trailers make it look. The jokes are as old as the leads. The story is recycled from the headlines. It becomes clear early in the edited down run time that this film isn't going to showcase some of the greatest talents of their generation in a smart, ironic satire of the exploitation of their generation. Instead it's going to be paint by the numbers crowd pleaser that needs life support of its own.

Going in Style has no style and barely goes anywhere. The plot is predictable but bordering on ridiculous as it descends into head shakingly stupid moments. Yes the movie thinks police are going to use the testimony of a 6 year old girl witness. Sure I guess it's okay for a film like this not to worry about silly details like realism. We're just supposed to laugh at the same old jokes about old people and we're supposed to be uplifted as they find new lease on their sad tired lives. We've seen these jokes all before in similarly benign movies like The Bucket List of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. That's exactly the demo Going in Style is going for, but without even trying that hard.

The of the moment update of the plot to involve the banking scandal feels one note and lacks any real pathos. Even Christopher Lloyd is wasted in a role that is just well, pathetic. 

So it turns out it is slumming after all. It's just pretty resistible. If you are a fan of any of these guys, perhaps resisting seeing them slum in this is the best choice.

Going in Style
Starring: Michael Cain, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, John Ortiz, Ann Margaret, Christopher Lloyd, Matt Dillan
Director: Zach Braff
Writer: Theodore Melfi