3.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for sexual candor and occasional profanity
By Derrick Bang
Old pros are a Hollywood
treasure.
They make everything look
effortless, bringing warmth and depth even to ordinary material, transforming
simple scenes into memorable dramatic moments.
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| Safely deposited in a trendy Las Vegas hotel/casino, our heroes — from left, Sam (Kevin Kline), Archie (Morgan Freeman), Paddy (Robert De Niro) and Billy (Michael Douglas) — wonder how to begin their "fabulous weekend." As it turns out, a poolside bikini contest will become the perfect ice-breaker. |
The bonus, in the case of Last
Vegas, is that Dan Fogelman’s script isn’t merely The Hangover for the
geezer set; his little story is alternately funny and poignant, with mildly
earthy touches that draw laughs while never straying into vulgarity.
As the cherry on top, we even get
a solid moral: Life ain’t over unless we lay down and give up. Every new day,
no matter what our age, brings the potential for fresh magic and unexpected
delights ... as long as we’re willing to risk the unexpected.
Back in the day, the “Flatbush
Four” were inseparable best friends: scrappy kids convinced that anything was
possible, as long as they looked out for each other. Director Jon Turteltaub
conveys this dynamic with a charming photo booth montage that plays behind the
opening credits: a giddy burst of youthful energy that defines relationships
and, yes, reveals that two of these boys are sweet on the same girl.
Flash-forward to the present day,
and — ennui being inevitable — that enthusiastic youthful fire has dimmed to a
flickering spark. Pulsating embers, if any still exist, are buried beneath
graying ash. These former friends stay in touch, but only fitfully.
Archie (Morgan Freeman),
following an “episode” that sent his adult son into a panic, has been put under
well-meaning but soul-draining lockdown, constantly cautioned against doing
anything more strenuous than picking up a book. Sam (Kevin Kline), although
boasting a long and happy marriage with Miriam (Joanna Gleason), spends his
days surrounded by elderly friends who reaffirm his own vanishing vitality.
A senior center regimen of
swimming pool exercises is both hilarious and tragic, the misery evident in
Sam’s resigned expression. Resigned, but never quiet; Sam isn’t one to suffer
silently ... which makes his despair that much more obvious to Miriam.
Paddy (Robert De Niro) has become
a virtual recluse, refusing to budge from the apartment he shared for so long
with his own adored wife, dead now for a year; the home has become a
photograph-laden tribute to her memory. A well-meaning young neighbor regularly
brings soup, probably as an excuse to verify that he’s still alive; Paddy
grumpily insists she shouldn’t bother.
Billy (Michael Douglas), the most
financially successful of the quartet, has remained single all this time,
perhaps hoping that youth can be retained by surrounding himself with a
lifetime’s supply of willing young women. Now, however, he has impulsively
popped the question to his current girlfriend, Lisa (Bre Blair); she has
accepted.
Their striking age difference —
she’s in her early 30s — raises eyebrows. So do the circumstances under which
the proposal emerges.
