Stand Up Guys Movie Review
Article: Movie Review, Theatrical Release
Val (Al Pacino) is getting out of prison, today, after serving a stand-up-guy (he’s not a snitch), 28-year sentence. His long-time buddy, Doc (Christopher Walken), is there to pick him up, he’s also prepared to kill him. Doc’s game for one last hurrah with Val and their other friend, Hirsch (Alan Arkin). Killing Val proves to be a tougher task than Doc had anticipated.
Nostalgia wears out rapidly, failing to fulfill your expectations of these storied acting careers. Remember how you felt after Phantom Menace? That feeling of “did that just happen?”
I guess the real problem lies in mediocre writing and directing.
Every played out senior citizen joke is included in Noah Haidle’s story, from Viagra abuse to breaking out of prison, wait, I mean nursing home. This script is flippant and cliché at every turn.
Direction doesn’t fare any better. Fisher Stevens is proof a fully loaded gun (of acting chops) won’t trump a painful lack of suspense, drama, and failed payoffs.
While the sophomore production duo deserve their lickings; Pacino, Walken and Arkin aren’t off the proverbial hook. Pacino overplays, Walken underplays, and Arkin, well I can’t figure out when Alan Arkin died.
It’s not so terrible as to write-off from a Redbox rental, just not good enough to waste your retirement income at the box office.
