Today’s quick review: Going in Style. Joe (George Burns), an aging retiree, decides that he wants to feel young again. Together with his best friends Al (Art Carney) and Willie (Lee Strasberg), he hatches a plan to rob a bank. Either the trio will get rich or spend a few comfortable years in jail while their Social Security checks build up. One way or another, the retirees will get what they want.
Going in Style is a comedy about three old men who decide to rob a bank. The movie explores themes of aging and vitality through a low-stakes caper. Its solid cast and amusing premise give Going in Style the tools it needs to succeed, but an aimless plot and subdued comedy keep it from living up to its full potential. The result is a wryly amusing and occasionally touching comedy that fails to follow through on its ideas.
As a comedy, Going in Style is a mixed bag. When George Burns and Art Carney are on, they sparkle. But these moments of charm are padded by stretches with few real jokes and slow pacing. The jokes are understated, especially by modern standards, often with no real punchline. The tone flirts with the amused attitude towards life that some comedies use in place of overt humor, but the writing lacks the insight to pull this off consistently.
As a story, Going in Style has clear deficiencies. The plot goes through significant lulls in which its direction is unclear. Events happen with little setup or motivation, and the plot changes track several times before it finally coasts into a conclusion. The events themselves form a fine story skeleton, but they are tied together poorly. A couple of dramatic moments are handled tastefully and actually carry some weight, but they are an odd fit with the comedy.
Watch Going in Style when you are in the mood for a light comedy with fine execution but a few rough patches, or if you are a George Burns fan. Most viewers will get more out of the remake, which has a better-developed plot, deeper characters, and a heftier dose of humor. For a more outrageous classic comedy, check out It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. For a comedy about aging with well-handled dramatic elements, look for Macaroni.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for decent entertainment value with some foibles.