Going In Style features three of the most likable, talented, funniest and charismatic actors in the movies today and actually does find something for them to do!
Going In Style is a comedy caper that is very appealing and breezy and it mainly works due to the strengths of its three leads.
Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin star as three lifelong friends who each work at the same factory when they’re told their company has been bought out and their pension is being restructured as a casualty. Afraid and fed up of being cheated out of their life’s work, the three decide to band together and rob the bank that’s responsible.
The movie does feature much more of an elaborate, albeit, by–the-numbers plot that we’ve seen done before in other heist movies, but the execution does come off as being detailed and we get just enough scenes explaining why these guys are going through with the robbery. Arkin tries to be the comical voice of reason even though he inevitably joins the other two.
Freeman and Caine pull off one particularly hilarious scene involving a motorized scooter from a grocery store. Caine commandeers it and wants Freeman to jump into the basket. “Who do you think I am, E.T?” quips Freeman.
Going In Style does contain some style for most of its runtime, but the third act slows down and eventually gives into conventionality. We can pretty much see where the twists and turns will lead and that’s because the script has almost exhausted a lot of ideas and is content with being set on autopilot.
However, before that, it does introduce a lot of enjoyable elements and the breeziness of the performances from its main cast makes it hold together. Going In Style can be a fun ride if hard to resist and I didn’t.
Grade: B
(Rated PG-13 for drug content, language and some suggestive material.)
This review is dedicated to the memory of Christie Dunham.
