Going in Style (2017)

“Going in Style” stars Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin, Joey King, Ann-Margret, Matt Dillon, and Christopher Lloyd.  Released on April 7, 2017, the film is about three elderly lifelong friends who plan on robbing a bank when their pensions are cancelled.

The film is directed by Zach Braff, who also directed Garden State and Wish I Was Here.  It is a remake of the 1979 film of the same name.  When you have a movie that stars three of the best, long-running actors in Hollywood, you pretty much know what type of audience it’s aiming for.  But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t give this one a shot because come on, who doesn’t love those three lovable elderly actors?  I haven’t actually seen the 1979 version of the film, so it would be interesting for me to see how this remake can attract those who also haven’t seen the original.  I wasn’t expecting that much out of this film despite its talented cast, but in this case, that should be considered a good thing.

Pros:
Freeman, Caine, and Arkin delivered some really good chemistry together.

The comedy was solid.  A bit rusty, but solid.

Zach Braff’s direction was decent.

Cons:
The story was ridiculous and tame at some points despite its charm.

The pacing was a bit slow, but still entertaining.

Final thoughts: Like any other heist strategies, the 2017 remake of “Going in Style” has plenty of flaws that could lead to disaster.  However, it managed to turn things around for the better thanks to its likable charm, the chemistry between the three main actors, and its solid use of comedy.  There were some parts that could’ve been portrayed a bit better in my opinion.  Other than that, I would classify this as a suitable comedy event for the Freeman fans, the Caine fans, and of course, the Arkin fans.

B