(Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Hilarious, But Derivative
Other than jacking the storyline of the 1996 classic “Set it Off” starring Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett, “Going in Style” is a hilarious portrait of what can happen when people get pushed to the edge of desperation.
Willie (Morgan Freeman), Joe (Michael Caine) and Albert (Alan Arkin) are long time friends and former co-workers who should be enjoying their retirement and their golden years in their native New York.
Unfortunately, like many, the elderly and sometimes grumpy trio gets taken for a loop when their longtime employer ships its operation overseas and cancels their pension.
As if losing their pensions is not bad enough, each member of the trio is suffering from real life dilemmas that could potentially bankrupt them financially and spiritually.
Joe signed an adjustable rate mortgage when refinancing his house and since he no longer has a pension, he might be forced to walk away from his home.
To make matters worse for Joe, his daughter and granddaughter have moved in with him so that his granddaughter can attend a better school.
Additionally, Joe’s former son-in-law is nowhere in the picture when it comes to taking financial responsibility for his daughter.
Willie is rooming with Albert, but even that is not enough to make up for a lack of resources.
He badly needs a kidney transplant but is low on the donor list.
Furthermore, when he should be enjoying the company of his daughter and granddaughter like Joe, he is unable to see them because his daughter’s career keeps her busy and on the other side of the country.
Albert does not have the worries of the others, but he has become so disgusted with life, he virtually prays that he does not make it to 100 years old.
Luckily, Joe has a plan after he is a witness to a bank robbery in which the assailants make off with over $1 million.
The only problem for the AARP bandits is that they are old as hell and cannot even escape a grocery store theft in which they attempt to steal roast, chicken and SPAM.
But, if the trio can pull off the heist, they will truly be going out in style.
However if things do not go well, going in style will be the least of their worries.
“Going in Style” is an absolutely hilarious and fun film.
To have three Academy Award winners willing to have fun with their career and appear in lighter roles is extremely refreshing especially for fans of Freeman.
Even more nuanced scenes of “Going in Style” are laugh out loud funny like the Bad B**** marijuana that Joe’s ex-son-in-law sales.
Unfortunately, “Going in Style” is too derivative of “Set it Off.”
“Going in Style” takes the premise of “Set it Off” and applies it to senior citizens in a comedic setting.
One cast member survives a bank robbery and is messed over by the bank.
That friend convinces the other friends to join in on the planned bank heist.
One friend has severe financial problems and is desperate to do anything to take care of his family.
But regardless of the derivative nature of “Going in Style,” the film goes off like a bang and is one of the best comedies of early 2017.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
