Stand down grandpa!

Certainly a film starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin can be considered as “vintage”. Three decadent gangsters catch up with each other and recall old times. One is still fresh from jail, the other left adventure to be a sunset painter and the third is wired up on an elderly care center bed.

This epic story starts with Pacino getting out of jail and Walken picking him up, as having nothing better to do. However there’s this mystery in the air while they meet again. Walken has taken up to assassinate Pacino within a day and totters between professionalism and friendship. But by the time they start hanging around again they decide to enjoy life like buddies. They even go brothel-hopping, making the film surpass the boundaries of aesthetics...

So for the most part we are shown the adventures of the two grandpa’s. Later Arkin joins the drill as well. On top of all this we are asked to sympathize with Walken’s dramatic dilemma; to kill or not to kill Pacino?? Even though it’s something the film would naturally focus on, it doesn’t! Instead, there’s an attempt to surprise us by reminding the “mission”. But believe me, nobody is surprised.

Right before a totally weird ending we get the honor to watch Pacino’s confession to a priest (like it would ever be to a judge...). Arkin’s already dead and I tried to decipher the unfathomable fact that his daughter hasn’t shed a single tear. Omg, Cry you bitch! He was your damn father!

Stand Up Guys is a movie that fulfills all conditions - interesting plot, powerful stars, nice music etc. - to present a fast, funny and lively adventure; nevertheless it winds up to an often boring experience with a few exceptions of real action and cute humor.

Admittedly the script and direction won’t easily let the actors’ talent unfold, as their personalities outweigh their roles. I would note though their costumes design goes back to the 60s. You can almost smell the staleness that emerges from the vivid view of them.

To be honest such reunions and come-backs by old celebrities make me a bit nervous. It feels like it’s a eulogy for all their movie portfolio. While they play it’s like they tell you “There’ll be no more!”.

Well, I’ll live for more! Cheers