Going In Style showcases 3 legendary actors with charming chemistry

Movie Title: Going In Style

Grade: B+

Rating: PG-13, 97 minutes

In a Nutshell: Face it, the cast is a bunch of adorable, lovable, and legendary guys: Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin. They have fantastic chemistry and are the highlight of the film. They ARE the film.

Going In Style is a remake of the old 1979 movie, yet the story still has relevance. You’ll be entertained and walk out of the theater with a goofy grin on your face.

Uplifting theme:

Life-long friends
Loyalty, family, friendship
“One can’t get enough time.” – Joe (Michael Caine)
“Do you want to drift off into the sunset or go out with a bang?” – Joe
“There’s always another way.” – Murphy (Peter Serafinowicz

Things I liked:

Christopher Lloyd has a small role, but he does a great job and steals the scenes he’s in. I don’t like seeing him get so old, but it happens to all of us.
We haven’t seen Ann Margaret in a while. I think the first time I ever saw her in a movie was in Bye Bye Birdie. I thought she was mesmerizing. What incredible, long careers all of these actors have had.
Pie!
It’s entertaining to see how they mastermind their big crime. Even funnier is watching them try to steal some groceries to get their feet wet in their new life of crime. Kids, don’t try this!
Have you noticed that Morgan Freeman has now been in 3 movies with the same theme that he’s dying and now needs to do something crazy? Check out The Bucket List and Last Vegas. See? They’re both fun flicks too.

Things I didn’t like:

The movie suggests that all banks are evil and heartless; therefore, it’s OK to commit crime. It is NOT OK to commit a crime. When people have nothing to lose, they do bad and/or illegal things. Having challenges in life still doesn’t give us permission to break the law.
It’s always a strange sensation when the audience wants the people in the movie to do something bad. Does that mean we’re living variously through them? Do we want to be able to justify or rationalize our own bad behavior? What does that say about us?
It’s not laugh-out-loud super funny, but it’s still charming. The older crowd will definitely be laughing the loudest.

Funny lines:

“This isn’t an admission of guilt. I’m just tired.” – Albert (Alan Arkin)
“Take my number. Things happen.” – Mitzi (Siobhan Fallon Hogan) My family still imitates her funny accent when she said “sugar water” in Men In Black

Interesting lines:

“We’re friends, Willy. We’re supposed to look out for each other, aren’t we? Then, let’s do it.” – Joe (Michael Caine)
“It’s a culture’s duty to take care of its elderly.” – Jesus (John Ortiz)

Tips for parents:

Some profanity, including one F-bomb
You might have to tell the kids about who the Rat Pack was.
Some suggestive material and pre-marital relations.
Medical marijuana discussion

If you’re interested in seeing the original Going in Style (1979) with George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg, you can actually still get it on Amazon!