Review of “Last Vegas”

The trailer promised four seasoned actors coming together in a movie that will leave you feeling warm and content. It even has Redfoo by a pool with sexy women in swimwear! I expect old people doing young people things to prove they still got it plus a couple dozen or so gags about the geriatric male body. But most importantly I don’t expect to be challenged by this movie. Fingers crossed, this film will be a perfect start of a night out followed by some beers. Showtime! 

It’s hard to talk about “Last Vegas” without comparing it to other movies. Fundamentally we have themes from several stories drawn together and blended into a factory processed ice cream sundae with ‘A’ list talent on top. Take the water downed Last Vegas adventures of “Hangover” and mix with the rejuvenation story of an alienless “Cocoon”. Now take your ‘Whatever became of them?’ questions from “Stand by Me” and make a movie set in sin city. That’s about it. I don’t think there is any deep meaning here. You probably might want to send a txt to an old friend or send an email to former acquaintances. It’s that kind of nostalgia. The pain of getting older is only magnified by loneliness so don’t live by yourself in your underpants and never leave the house. Also, don’t force love. You can’t make a forever with anyone. It’s never too late. Yada yada yada. It’s that kind of film. I just wanted to see some jokes about being old. And there are plenty! So that’s ok. Maybe I even hope that my old age will find me still having adventures and being impulse like the person I never was. And that’s okay too.

Mmmmmm....

So that’s what the trailer told us to expect and that’s what we got. What in hell makes someone go see films like this? I will tell you – Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. That’s the only reason I went. It’s like finding a book in Waterstones with a title like “1001 facts about Granite” that has a plane grey cover. You wouldn’t look at it twice! But then you notice ‘written by J. K. Rowling’ and you think maybe there is something here… I’m not saying that “Last Vegas” was dull as dishwater, what I am saying is that it is completely pedestrian with four great actors along for the ride. There are other great performances in the movie (shout out to Marry Steenburgen) but I want to talk about the big guns. They camp it up and strut their stuff at all the right moments. Once again, that’s about it. We get all the jokes in all the right places and four feel good stores that each actor has the sincerity to make genuine. Part of me is worried and excited that what we are seeing is how our heroes actually do behave in their spare time. Only a little bit. De Niro gets more to play with as the recently widowed Patrick Colson. At several points his bitterness adds a shade of darkness to the story. While his comrades may be embarrassed by how young people treat them or worried by continued sickness, he is fantastically sullen. While ostensibly a plot hook, this behaviour almost spoils our enjoyment but only because it challenges the easy ride we have jumped on. Shame on De Niro for being a great actor.

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“Last Vegas” is completely harmless and good fun. If you fancy a laugh get the DVD when it comes out. Perfect for a neutral social occasion.

I give “Last Vegas” two out of five Brian faces.