Last Vegas (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Michael Doulgas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, & Kevin Kline in Las Vegas. Sounds like a hoot, right? Well, it is ... sort of. Watching these guys play off each other & act something akin to themselves is fun ... but the direction/script that hones the 4 of them & their hijinks into an actual MOVIE is woefully lacking. This quartet is forced to use their charisma & thespian talents to overcome the lackluster script/dialogue. Still, I enjoyed sitting back, relaxing, chuckling, grimacing, & experiencing 'Last Vegas' (directed by Jon Turtletaub, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, National Treasure).
The film opens with a humorous scene set in the 1950s that introduces a group of 11 yr. old boys who refer to themselves as the "Flatbush Four". The story then flash forwards some 58 yrs. to now, when the Flatbush Four have alllll grown up. After some characterization set-up scenes, they set-out for Vegas for the bachelor party of Billy (Michael Douglas), who's about to marry a 32 yr. old (she's very sweet, but may be out for his $$. Who knows?). Also in attendance are Paddy (Robert De Niro), whose ongoing feud with Billy over the prior love of their life (Paddy is a depressed recent widower, his wife also dated Billy back in the day).
The 3rd member of this foursome is Sam (Kevin Kline), a jolly guy with a titanium leg whose wife (Joanna Gleason) has given him a "free pass" while he's in Las Vegas with the hope it will re-ignite their marriage (straaange plot point written by scripter, Dan Fogelman). And the 4th member is Archie (Morgan Freeman), who's relishing a chance to escape from the clutches of his worried son, who views him as fragile in the wake of a recent stroke.
The scenarios that play-out in Vegas are pretty tame. i.e., Hangover-for-the-elderly-crowd. 'Last Vegas' goes exactly where you'd expect it to go. No surprises. No ingenuity -- just a lackadaisical romp with 4 great actors who look like they're having a good 'ole time; and we feed off of their considerable energy. I also liked seeing Mary Steenburgen again. She's an amiable presence (as always), but she's kind of saddled with the role of love interest-caught-btwn.-Douglas/DeNiro. The 'comedic aspects' of the movie are, well, uneven. I laughed at the guy's ripping on Michael Douglas' complexion/hair color; they call him "hazelnut". Most of the laughs come from Kevin Kline {big shocker there} or Morgan Freeman {I nearly busted a gut when he "jumped" out of his bedroom window}.
I also enjoyed watching Morgan Freeman get drunk & dancing to Earth Wind & Fire's "September". See, most of the 'humor' provoked occasional chuckles. But some of the humor led to dead air -- not good. When you get down to it, most of the entertainment factor in 'Last Vegas' comes squarely from watching these 4 male actors do their thing & interact with each other. I expected that. I got what I expected. I guess I just wish it went the extra mile ... more jokes, more spontaneity in the script. But it's okay for what it is & should do pretty well at the box office, as well. I feel like giving this movie a B- rating is a pass. But so be it.
The film opens with a humorous scene set in the 1950s that introduces a group of 11 yr. old boys who refer to themselves as the "Flatbush Four". The story then flash forwards some 58 yrs. to now, when the Flatbush Four have alllll grown up. After some characterization set-up scenes, they set-out for Vegas for the bachelor party of Billy (Michael Douglas), who's about to marry a 32 yr. old (she's very sweet, but may be out for his $$. Who knows?). Also in attendance are Paddy (Robert De Niro), whose ongoing feud with Billy over the prior love of their life (Paddy is a depressed recent widower, his wife also dated Billy back in the day).
The 3rd member of this foursome is Sam (Kevin Kline), a jolly guy with a titanium leg whose wife (Joanna Gleason) has given him a "free pass" while he's in Las Vegas with the hope it will re-ignite their marriage (straaange plot point written by scripter, Dan Fogelman). And the 4th member is Archie (Morgan Freeman), who's relishing a chance to escape from the clutches of his worried son, who views him as fragile in the wake of a recent stroke.
The scenarios that play-out in Vegas are pretty tame. i.e., Hangover-for-the-elderly-crowd. 'Last Vegas' goes exactly where you'd expect it to go. No surprises. No ingenuity -- just a lackadaisical romp with 4 great actors who look like they're having a good 'ole time; and we feed off of their considerable energy. I also liked seeing Mary Steenburgen again. She's an amiable presence (as always), but she's kind of saddled with the role of love interest-caught-btwn.-Douglas/DeNiro. The 'comedic aspects' of the movie are, well, uneven. I laughed at the guy's ripping on Michael Douglas' complexion/hair color; they call him "hazelnut". Most of the laughs come from Kevin Kline {big shocker there} or Morgan Freeman {I nearly busted a gut when he "jumped" out of his bedroom window}.
I also enjoyed watching Morgan Freeman get drunk & dancing to Earth Wind & Fire's "September". See, most of the 'humor' provoked occasional chuckles. But some of the humor led to dead air -- not good. When you get down to it, most of the entertainment factor in 'Last Vegas' comes squarely from watching these 4 male actors do their thing & interact with each other. I expected that. I got what I expected. I guess I just wish it went the extra mile ... more jokes, more spontaneity in the script. But it's okay for what it is & should do pretty well at the box office, as well. I feel like giving this movie a B- rating is a pass. But so be it.