Going in Style

Director: Zach Braff

Cast: Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, AnnMargret, Christopher Lloyd, Matt Dillon

Rating: (M) ★★+

MICHAEL CAINE, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin are three of the most accomplished actors working in films, but even they were challenged to make this remake come close to the original 1979 film starring George Burns, Lee Strasberg and Art Carney.

Despite their best efforts, this film from former Scrubs star Zach Braff, a new take on the senior citizen bank heist tale, is nothing more than a glorified big screen version of a TV situation comedy.

Caine, Freeman and Arkin play longtime friends facing an uncertain future when they lose their pensions. The only way out looks to be robbing a bank, where they either escape with enough dough to live out their senior years quietly or get caught and get taken care of by the government. What could have been an interesting commentary on the plight of senior citizens gives way to a long list of sophomoric jokes.

This plan plays out in cartoonish fashion, including a lowspeed chase scene after a test robbery at a local market. The three lead actors also have to deal with a time when Hollywood plays it very safe. Instead of a more realistic ending, as was the case with the original film, this updated version goes for a silly happy ending.

Arkin, Caine and Freeman have every right to make a mindless bit of entertainment. It just ends up a waste as there is no question they could have made a much better movie with a script that was not so mediocre.