Movie Title: JUST GETTING STARTED
Grade: D
Rating: PG-13, 1
hour 31 minutes
In a Nutshell: With a
promising beginning, this lazy comedy just doesn’t get started. It’s a
disappointing waste of talent and time.
Surprisingly, this is the first time that Tommy Lee Jones
and Morgan Freeman have worked in a film together. I love them both.
The movie features a playful rivalry between the two as they battle it out for the Alpha male position at a retirement village with Rene Russo as the prize. Morgan Freeman’s character challenges, “You and I…just getting started.” Their chemistry is good, but the writing is inconsistent in what could be an entertaining war between the two.
The movie features a playful rivalry between the two as they battle it out for the Alpha male position at a retirement village with Rene Russo as the prize. Morgan Freeman’s character challenges, “You and I…just getting started.” Their chemistry is good, but the writing is inconsistent in what could be an entertaining war between the two.
The cast includes other delightful, aging actors, but the
star power is much greater than the plot and storytelling. It’s mostly funny for people aged 60 and
over. Make that 70.
Morgan Freeman’s character sums up
his goals, philosophy and this movie when he states, “Sex, booze, golf, and
then you die.”
Uplifting theme:
- “Happiness
is not a condition. It’s a choice.” - Duke (Morgan Freeman)
- Friendship
Things I liked:
- Given
that everyone in the audience I sat with probably has some cans of Ensure
in their kitchen pantry, I think it’s funny that the movie is produced, in
part, by Endurance Media. Ha ha
- Christmas
in Palm Springs includes Santa Claus in board shorts and flip flops,
Christmas trees on golf carts, and carolers singing to people in hot tubs.
- Fun
cameo performance by Johnny Mathis
- A
shout-out for the navigator app “Waze.”
I love that app! When Google’s
navigator got me lost in Panama, Waze saved the day. True story.
Things I didn’t like:
- It’s
just not that funny. I was so bored
that I kept looking at my watch.
Well, I don’t actually wear a watch, but you know what I mean.
- I was
surprised that all of the big name stars in the movie would go for such a
dumb script.
- If you
want to see a better Morgan Freeman “twilight years” movie, rent The Bucket List
- Lots
of pointless, boring scenes.
- Sadly,
this is Glenne Headly’s last movie.
She died on June 8, 2017.
- Jane Seymour
is such a lovely, graceful beauty, but in this movie she plays an
over-the-top mob wife who actually looks old and ridiculous.
- You
hear the snotty words “Shut up!” MANY times by quite a few characters. Once might be funny, but over and over is just sloppy writing and makes all of the characters look equally mean spirited.
- Morgan
Freeman’s cronies were played by Joe Pantoliano, George Wallace, and
Graham Beckel. Sadly, their talent
didn’t add much to this lame comedy.
Interesting lines:
- “A lot
of trees have flaws. So do
people. You can put the bad side of
trees against the wall. What do you
do with people?” – Duke Diver (Morgan Freeman)
“That’s deep.” – Jimmy (Nick Peine)
Funny lines:
- “If
she falls for a drunk Santa Claus, I badly misjudged her character.” – Leo
(Tommy Lee Jones)
- “I
need a cup of coffee.” – Duke
“You need a new liver.” – Leo
- “I’m
exploring my feminine side.” - Leo
Tips for
parents:
- Tons of jokes about sex.
- The trio of old women who are included for comic
relief constantly throw themselves at the men and are always seen with a
glass of alcohol. Trio of
lushes. Is that like a gaggle of
geese?
- Some profanity, including one F-bomb.
- Guns
and shooting
- Kids
will probably think it’s stupid and just think it’s a movie of a bunch of “old
farts.” Surprisingly, no one actually farts in the movie.
@trinaboice
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