Three golden oldies unite for the funniest film of the year
Sadly older people are rarely in the limelight in films these days. So when a film comes along that squarely but humorously tackles the realities of getting older, and puts the most famed silver foxes centre stage, you need to pay attention.
Better yet, gather your friends and mark April 20 for a date to the pictures, because you’re not going to want to miss the hilarious remake of the 1979’s hit heist film Going in Style (originally starring George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg) on the big screen.
The remake stars Oscar winners Morgan Freeman, 79, Michael Caine, 84, and Alan Arkin, 83, as a trio of retirees on a mission for justice. After their company is bought out and their pensions cut, the lifelong pals devise a plan to rob a bank. You see, the bank they're targeting holds their company’s pensions funds and they’re going to take back what is rightfully theirs.
Cue a hilarious sequence of events that does not shy away from the challenges three men of a certain age would have pulling off the grandfather of all bank heists. Think a typical action chase sequence that does not get very far because, well, the older you get the less spritely you are. But never fear, Arkin in a getaway mobility scooter arrives to save the day… sort of.
You’ll be shaking with laughter at the antics these old-timers get up to, but between the chuckles the film gets serious with the reality that many seniors are facing: disillusionment with a system that has broken promises and let them down.
These men have dedicated their entire working lives to the steel company, their friendships were forged over the assembly line, and they expected their promised pensions would let them live out the rest of their golden years. When that’s unceremoniously stripped from them, leaving them struggling to survive, it is the first time in their lives these friends step off the straight-and-narrow path – and you can’t help but cheer them on as they stick it to the man.
It’s a real treat to watch three stalwarts of the acting world get together on screen for the first time, and you can tell they had the times of their lives filming these crazy adventures together. But what is most refreshing about Going in Style is how real the “grumpy old men” characters are; they’re not the clichéd stereotypes we usually see of older people in films. Throwing caution to the wind for the first time in their lives, Freeman, Caine and Arkin renewed zest for life sees them embark on the craziest and most exciting of adventures, something they would never have dreamed of doing in their younger years.
The film is a reminder that not only is there a lot to live for after 60 but also that you’re never too old to do anything in life – even rob a bank (although we do not recommend you do that!).
Get ready to laugh, then laugh some more, and then after you’re done laughing, be inspired to make your golden years the best years of your life. As to whether they pull off the heist, you’ll just have to watch the film to find out.
THIS IS SPONSORED CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU IN CONJUCTION WITH VILLAGE ROADSHOW.