Going in Style *** (2017, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret) – Movie Review

Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin bail out director Zach Braff’s rather slack and lame crime comedy, as three really old blokes who decide to rob their own bank when their pension fund dries up.

It is a remake of the 1979 movie Going in Style starring George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg. Theodore Melfi’s inevitably sentimental screenplay (based on the 1979 story by Edward Cannon) is amusing in places, but not consistently witty, funny or clever. Luckily, Michael Caine can make the dullest line funny, Arkin is very amusing, and top-billed Freeman charming and funny enough.

There are way too many old folk and death jokes – all of them virtually the same and not one of them in the ballpark of amusing – making this a geriatric comedy in both senses. Nevertheless, it is quite likeable and harmless, and the brain-in-neutral 90 minutes pass cheerfully and painlessly by.

Matt Dillon struggles as FBI agent Hamer, Ann-Margret has nothing to do as Arkin’s love interest (for heaven’s sake!) and Christopher Lloyd is wasted as senile Milton. These three iconic actors have terrible roles and that’s bad.

And at least Braff makes his movie look smart.

In 2017, Michael Caine is the most prolific working actor in UK feature film.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Movie Review

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