Genre Guesstimation – Going in Style (1979)

The idea behind this feature (Genre Guesstimation) is for me to watch a bunch of new movies (or ones that I haven’t seen many times) from the chosen monthly GG genre in order to expand my knowledge of movies within that particular genre.

This month’s Genre has been chosen by Drew of Drew’s Movie Reviews we will be reviewing our favorite Heist Movies.

Please get me your submissions by the 25th of March by sending them to drewsheist@movierob.net

Try to think out of the box!

Great choice Drew!

Let’s see if I felt that this movie would be worthy of being in the company of my others favorite movies in the genre of Heist Films…

“You kiddin’? I could sooner fall asleep on a roller coaster. I don’t like them jets. I don’t trust no plane that ain’t got no propellers. ” – Al

Number of Times Seen – 1 (13 Mar 2016)

Brief Synopsis – Three senior citizens bored with their lives decide to spice things up and rob a bank

My Take on it – This is a movie that I heard about years ago and have been wanting to see for a while, but just never got around to it.

The premise seemed great and with the trio of leading men featuring Art Carney, Lee Strasberg and George Burns, how could it go wrong.

Unfortunately, despite the premise with lots of potential, this movies feels like it is dampened too much and scenes that should have been funnier or even more poignant are left feeling a bit more than so-so.

The storyline has its ups and downs and that actually hurts the flow of things along the way and the impact of things should have been better and more powerful.

There is a planned remake next year of this film with Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Christopher Lloyd and Alan Arkin and despite not being a fan of remakes, I think this one actually has the potential of surpassing the original if they end up doing it right.

Guess we’ll have to wait a year to find out tho…

Bottom Line –  Great premise that works most of the time, but feels a bit dampened at the same time.  Excellent choice of the leads help make this both funny and somber.  Too many lulls in the storyline takes away from the impact that this should have. Hopefully, the remake planned for next year will take this to the level where it should be because so much can be done with it.

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – This film marked the only appearance together of George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg: they did other films apart after this one and died in later years. Although they portrayed three elderly men of approximately the same age, they spanned over 20 years in difference: Burns (born 1896) was 83, Strasberg (born 1901) was 78, while Art Carney (born 1918) was only 61 years old when the film was made. (From IMDB)

Genre Grandeur Worthy? – Nope. It was good premise, but just doesn’t pack the power that it feels like it was meant to wield.  perhaps the remake will be better next year.

Rating – BAFTA Worthy

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