“Last Vegas” is a surprisingly crowd-pleasing movie with a
focus on the value of friendship and the love and loyalty that accompany it.
From the previews, this movie looks like Hangover
for the geriatric set, but, thankfully, it’s not. It is entertaining with a
script that gives its actors, all heavyweights and Oscar winners, meaningful
moments and funny lines. It’s the story of four childhood friends who have
moved to different parts of the country, but remain in touch. All are facing 70
and are reacting in different ways. Billy (Michael Douglas), who is a wealthy
businessman, is about to end his long bachelorhood by marring a woman a third
of his age. Paddy (Robert De Niro) is recovering from the death of his wife and
can barely get out of his bathrobe. Archie (Morgan Freeman), having had a mild
stroke, has to overcome his fear and resume life. And Sam (Kevin Kline) has
lost his zest and can’t shake a mild depression. The friends reunite in Vegas
for Billy’s bachelor party and the story takes place over the next couple of
days. Mary Steenburgen plays a former lawyer pursuing her dream as a singer and
she becomes the romantic interest of two of the men.
That a 60-year-old actress can be cast in a romantic role is
welcome. Usually Hollywood will cast a 45-year-old, taking for granted that the
audience will believe she would be interested in men old enough to be her
father. And it’s even better that Steenburgen is so convincing in the role.
Kline, Freeman, De Niro and Douglas demonstrate both the easy chemistry and
excitable energy of old friends reconnecting after years apart and they all
seem to be having fun. They are all great to watch, but Freeman’s work stands
out. He is most often cast in such serious roles that it’s a pleasure to watch
him cut loose. With “Last Vegas,” director Jon Turteltaub has created a
congenial environment for his cast and a pleasurable move-going experience for
the audience. 11/10/13
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