Friday, November 1, 2013

Last Vegas





                                                             



                        There is an old saying that things get better with age. Now I can believe that is the case for some things, but let’s face it, being young is so much better. Being young and being older are just two different worlds, and no better place says that more than Las Vegas. You have downtown for the older and established crowd, and then you have the fresh and new strip. Well a few years ago we were given “Hangover” and we got to see how Vegas can be for that younger generation, but how would it be for the sixty and up crowd?
               Well lucky or unlucky, depending on whom you are, someone has tried to tell us that story. Billy (Michael Douglas) is what I picture as your typical rich 71 year old Californian. Looking much younger than he really is, very tan, and of course dating a much younger woman. Billy has decided he wants to marry his younger girlfriend, and calls his three childhood friends to meet in Las Vegas for a bachelor party. So Billy calls Sam (Kevin Kline), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Patty (Robert De Niro) to meet him in Vegas for a great weekend. Once in Vegas we are given all kind of jokes about being old, even throwing in a fanny pack joke for good measure. We have parties, lots of scantily clad women, and of course a reference to Viagra. Just remember the saying,” what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”
                I will say I enjoyed watching the first “Hangover”, Just because it was different and pushed the envelope. Then they wanted to give us more, and like a real hangover one was enough. I only bring up “Hangover” because you may hear people refer to “Last Vegas” as the hangover for the older crowd. Well let me say that would be a bad comparison, because at least “Hangover” was funny.  Yeah there are some cute moments in this movie, and it will definitely play to a certain crowd, a crowd that reached retirement age already. Written by Dan Fogleman, who brought us the very good “Crazy, Stupid, Love” last year and directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure), neither of which live up to their past endeavors. To top it off most of the actors, seem to be mailing it in, and treat this more like a payday than a fun role. The one good thing with this film is that is brought back Kevin Kline, who doesn't act as often as he should. I think what someone should do next is Vegas with a bunch of teenagers, that way the circle is complete. It is easy to make comments about the age factor in this movie, but in the end that does not matter. What matters is, if you are going to make a comedy, the movie should be at least funny, and this movie is not at all. So if you want a story about a weekend in Vegas, book a trip there, just do anything else but watch this movie.

Brian Taylor




No comments:

Post a Comment