The idea of putting older, veteran actors together in a raunchy comedy set in Las Vegas guarantees people confusing it for a senior citizen version of The Hangover. The thing is that’s exactly what Last Vegas is and instead of running away from that comparison, the film embraces it to entertaining results.
Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline are the older gentlemen who anchor Last Vegas and the film is a straight-forward comedy that doesn’t ask much of the thespians except to smile, have fun and cash their paycheck.
As the film opens we’re introduced to each main character and their daily routine. It just so happens that this quartet of seniors are childhood friends but over the years haven’t been as close as they used to be. Billy (Douglas) is the leader of the group and his engagement to a woman half his age is the catalyst for the men to reunite in Vegas for an epic bachelor party.
Do things go wrong and crazy in Vegas? We wouldn’t have a movie if they didn’t.
Billy may be acting out by marrying such a younger woman but we slowly realize that each of the others have their own issues too. Paddy (DeNiro), Archie (Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline) are all wrestling with depression stemming from many of life’s curve balls. Strokes, boredom and loss of a loved one all come into play but they are balanced enough so they can be worked into the plot without making the movie a total downer. After all, this is a fish-out-of-water movie about seniors embracing their age and having fun in Vegas. All the heavy stuff can wait for the sequel.
Director Jon Turtletaub (the National Treasure franchise) is the kind of director who isn’t too flashy but knows how to get the job done. Most of his movies are easily digestible pieces of entertainment that don’t ask much of their audience and Last Vegas is no different. The obvious draw of the film are the four leads and their escapades in Vegas and Turtletaub knows this. He wisely sets up the plot in a fast, straight-forward way and lets the men run loose with their adventures. Some jokes are better than others but at least the film is self-aware and stays in its wheelhouse.
Last Vegas is indeed The Hangover for an older crowd and as such works perfectly fine as escapist entertainment.
Grade: B
Rated: PG-13 (for sexual content and language)
Last Vegas opens in theaters on November 1, 2013.
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