Tropic Sprockets / Going in Style

Tropic Sprockets / Going in Style

By Ian Brockway

“Going in Style” is Theodore Melfi’s remake of Martin Brest’s 1979 film of the same name. While not a bad version, the story feels a bit too mild and tame, having very little of the pathos and sensitivity of the original which starred George Burns and Art Carney. The film merely jabs at the human condition which the first film defined so well, and one gets only a slight poignance. The film rushes by questions of friendship and aging, highlighting instead action sequences and sight gags.

Joe (Michael Caine), Willie (Morgan Freeman) and Albert (Alan Arkin) are three aged friends who discover that their pensions are about to be dissolved by corporate irresponsibility and its leverage with the bank. Joe is about to be foreclosed upon, Willie can’t afford his medical need of a kidney and Albert is mildly depressed.

After witnessing a slick bank robbery, Joe gets the idea to attempt a robbery as well, reasoning that he has nothing to lose. His buddies reject the idea, fearing prosecution.

The film is pleasantly feel-good and both Caine and Freeman have a few jokes, humorous exchanges and some trifling repartee about living while old. The best lines are given to Arkin who is the curmudgeon of the group, existential and slightly sour, in the mode of a Larry David persona. You can tell that these three seniors are friends. There is a recognition in the eyes and a warmth of feeling in their movement.  Hints of intimacy are present. 

It is a shame however that most of the quiet feelings that would have given this story charge and vitality are largely dispensed with, in favor of the men chewing the fat with small talk and eyeballing the idea of money. The happiest concept that Joe and his friends can think of is ordering pie whenever they want.

The gents plan out their alibis and time-tables, meeting an oddly gentle criminal with a puppy, Jesus (John Ortiz). They buy guns filled with blanks and don Sinatra, Martin and Davis masks.

The gang goes to a charity carnival in preparation for the robbery. Willie puts on a Frankenstein’s creature costume. The laughs are mild with the three amigos poking and ribbing at each other. Yet nothing happens of any real substance. 

Ann-Margret appears as a flirty temptress but even her sensuality is stuck in such a middle gear that there seems no question of Viagra. Matt Dillion is here playing an agent. Dillon gives such a straight and charmless delivery that he just takes up space. A bit of verve comes from Keenan Thompson of SNL who gives a few fun tsk-tsks, but even he feels restrained.

There is a singular well done scene involving Michael Caine firing upon the prick of a bank executive (Josh Pais) but the resolution that follows is so pat that the intrigue is pushed aside in favor of a formulaic ending. 

Judged against director Martin Brest, this film is definite missed opportunity. But, if you are in favor of gentle laughs without discord or consequence, then “Going in Style” is your light heist. Rest assured, barely an eyebrow will be raised.