Homefront movie
7.25 out of 10
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie
8.75 out of 10
Disney's Frozen movie
10.0 out of 10
Delivery Man movie
6.75 out of 10
Thor
8.25 out of 10

Monday, November 18, 2013

Delivery Man

COMEDY

Potency

6.75 out of 10 | Rental

Rated: PG-13  Thematic elements, sexual content, some drug material, brief violence and language
Release Date: November 22, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes

Director: Ken Scott
Writers: 
Ken Scott, Martin Petit
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Bobby Moynihan, Adam Chanler-Berat, Britt Robertson, Jack Reynor



SYNOPSIS:  An affable underachiever finds out he's fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity.

REVIEW: Writer and director Ken Scott takes his own 2011 film Starbuck and remakes it with American sweetheart Vince Vaughn. Scott did have help from co-writer Martin Petit the first go-around but seems to have found his own way this try.


David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn, The Internship) lives a carefree and responsibility free life as a meat delivery driver for his father's business. He owes money to the wrong people, can't seem to keep from getting parking tickets, and has all but abandoned his girlfriend Emma (Cobie Smoulders, The Avengers). When he learns that his sperm donating years ago has resulted in him fathering over 500 kids - and that over 100 of those offspring are petitioning to discover David's identity. He must make the impossible choice whether to reveal himself to the enquiring kids or stay anonymous no matter what. While deciding David has to juggle work, his newly pregnant girlfriend, and serving as a guardian angel for the kids he wants to be close to.

Vince Vaughn takes a more dramatic turn in Delivery Man. His wingman Owen Wilson is absent from the story, replaced by mediocre lawyer and best friend of twenty years Brett (Chris Pratt, Zero Dark Thirty). The normal silly hi-jinks are replaced by something more akin to a possible dramatic edge. Dealing with over one hundred kids who want to find out their sperm father's identity can be a logistical nightmare.

Unable to include all of the kids, Vaughn and his character Dave focus on just a few of them. From a barista who want to be an actor, to a girl at the end of her rope, to a handicapped young man living in a group home, the story tries to give a little slice of all the lives that David had created. Unfortunately some of the dramatic elements that come with telling these individual tales leads to one child left out by the end. Understanding that it is difficult to tell so many stories in a hundred minute film, some threads start and do not really end to satisfaction.

Delivery Man is a Vince Vaughn movie with dramatic potential, but the story really doesn't offer enough of either the drama or the company to know what it wants to be when it grows up. There are loose ends used strictly as a device to get to the next point of the story, Cobie Smulders is underused and forgotten through much of the film, and the brothers in the Wozniak family, including Tommy Moynahan, don't get enough screen time to really make a difference. Chris Pratt does the flick proud as his typical Parks and Recreation self, his character mugging and scratching his head throughout.
Delivery Man, based on the story Starbuck, could have been an utterly chaotic slapstick comedy or a straight heart tugging drama. Vince Vaughn does all he can to straddle and blur the line between them. At the end of the day Delivery Man is what you would expect from a father of over five hundred children - exhausted and confused.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Thor: The Dark World

SCI-FI/FANTASY, ACTION/ADVENTURE

The Nine Realms

8.25 out of 10 | MOVIE and DVD

Rated: PG-13  Intense sci-fi action and violence and some suggestive content
Release Date: November 8, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes

Director: Alan Taylor
Writers: 
Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Don Payne, Robert Rodat, based on the character created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Jaimie Alexander, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgard



SYNOPSIS:  Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

REVIEW: Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor takes his drama and fantasy small screen experience to the big screen as he tackles the return of the Norse gods in the Marvel universe. Written by experienced Marvel writer Christopher Yost, Captain America: The First Avenger scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely from a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat from the original creation by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, Thor must sacrifice everything for the kingdom he serves and the woman he loves.


Millennium ago, before the light over the Nine Realms was formed, Dark Elves ruled. When light came to the worlds the Dark Elves fought to keep it at bay. Eventually the Asgardians, led by Bor, beat the elves back into annihilation and kept their leader Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) from releasing the Aether that would bring darkness back to all the realms. Now, as the Nine Realms move into alignment known as a Convergence the physics and separation between realms becomes thin and unpredictable. After the events of the alien invasion in New York Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has been busy with quelling marauders and warring factions across the worlds. When his love Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) comes in contact with the Aether, Thor takes her from Midgard to Asgard for treatment. Sensing that the Aether has returned, The Dark Elf king awakes from his slumber to retrieve it and finish plunging the realms back into darkness. Thor and his imprisonment brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) must go against Odin (Anthony Hopkins) in an attempt to save Jane, destroy the Aether, and ultimately defeat the Dark Elves.

The battle for New York is over, and the Avengers have disbanded to return to their own lives. Tony Stark has rebuilt Stark Tower and deal with the menace of Pierce and the Mandarin. Thor returns to Asgard to defend both his kingdom and the other worlds from the chaos that has erupted. And soon Steve Rogers will have to deal with patriotic nostalgic notions set against a more violent and covert modern world. While some say that no single hero film will top what the Avengers and Joss Whedon brought to life in the summer of 2012, both Ironman and Thor have returned to deal with their own single adventures. After Thor's origin story and his stint in the Avengers, The Dark World opens up the character and mythos and brings to life a tale of tragedy, loss, humor, action, redemption and action.

Taking a page directly from Norse mythology, the Dark Elves are an integral parts of viking lore. Malekith and his elf brothers add another formidable menace to Thor's rich history. Also, each realm brings to life a unique mesh of mechanics, sorcery, religion and technology. For the Dark Elves their battleships are reminiscence of those of the necromancers from The Chronicles of Riddick. The elves are both elegant and utterly dangerous.

The god of thunder, as mighty as he is with his hammer, is still most interesting when humanized. He surrounds himself with his friends Sif (Jaimie Alexander), Hogan Tadanobu Asano), Fandral (Zachery Levi), and Volstagg (Ray Stevenson). Thor struggles with his responsibility as heir to the kingdom of Asgard. He battles against the "wisdom "of his father Odin, and he yearns for a return to Jane in Midgard. But aside from his worries and responsibilities, this tale is made most interesting by his relationship with his brother Loki who was the engineer of the alien invasion in New York City.

Hiddleston's Loki always steals every scene with his conniving tricks. Played to perfection, Loki is at the same time earnest and power-hungry. Hemsworth's Thor may be muscle bound but his strength doesn't keep him from the worries of his responsibility to his kingdom and his love. Kat Dennings' unpaid intern Darcy provides plenty of one-liner laughs, as well as Stellan Skarsgard's Dr. Eric Selvig running around through half the film in some form of undress. Natalie Portman's Jane Foster is more developed and in more jeopardy in this film, serving as a focal points to the events that unfold. And you can't discount Anthony Hopkins' always Shakespearean turn as the All-father Odin.

Thor wields his mighty hammer Mjolnir to wrestle with both the safety and security of Asgard, Midgard and of the rest of the Nine Realms. Thor: The Dark World is a well-paced fantasy adventure tale perfect to follow up both the original film and The Avengers, filled with action, romance and dire consequence. This time around the god of thunder truly brings the boom.

Note: Remember to stay for both the mid end credits and after the end credits for scenes that foreshadows events in future feature films and a bit of closure for this film.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

About Time

ROMANTIC COMEDY, SCI-FI

Picking the Right Moments

7.8 out of 10 | DVD or RENTAL

Rated: R  Language and some sexual content
Release Date: November 8, 2013
Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes

Director: Richard Curtis
Writers: 
Richard Curtis
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Richard Cordery, Joshua McGuire, Tom Hollander



SYNOPSIS:  At the age of 21, Tim discovers he can travel in time and change what happens and has happened in his own life. His decision to make his world a better place by getting a girlfriend turns out not to be as easy as it sounds.

REVIEW: Richard Curtis, director of Pirate Radio and Love Actually, writes and directs a new romantic tale taking place on the British Isle. Can his new effort stand up to the success of his previous works? Only time will tell.


A young man Tim (Domhnall Gleeson, Dredd 3D) is told by his father (Bill Nighy, The World's End) on the day after a huge annual family New Years Eve party that all the men in the family can travel back in time. Will he try and gain riches and fame with his power? Actually, all he really wants is to find a girlfriend. Moving to London to pursue a career as a barrister, Tim finds himself on a date with a young woman Mary (Rachel McAdams, The Vow). Completely smitten, Tim does all he can to make every moment perfect with her. Will his time traveling lead to a perfect life, or will he alter it so much that it will be unrecognizable?

Built as a dramedy with a science-fi plot device, About Time can be categorized in the same genre as Keanu Reeves' Lake House, Paul Dano's Ruby Sparks, and Eric Bana's The Time Traveler's Wife. Time traveling is paramount to the story and serves it well, but the story is more than just that notion, revolving about love and loss, regrets and realizations, and life decisions made.

Decidedly British, About Time's Tim is a young Hugh Grant, awkwardly stumbling around his words around girls and strange situations. As he grows up, he matures but keeps his innocence and naivety. Time travel is not an easy concept to wrap one's mind around, but Tim does his best to find his way through it. Tim's dad tries to guide him in the intricacies of the legacy ability as best he can without keeping Tim from finding his own way and own voice. The American Mary is the perfect blend of girl next door and romantic pursuit. She is worthy of Tim's time and the audience's investment. rounding out the ensemble is Lydia Wilson as the free spirit and younger sister Kit Kat, Richard Cordery as the eccentric Uncle D, and Joshua McGuire as barrister pal Rory.

The sci-fi time travel angle is quaint and its rules simplistic. The traveler can only move along his own lifeline and affect only immediate change in his own life. He does not overlap with multiple versions of himself, instead embodying his one body at any one time. There are other rules, but they are more important to the story, so they will be left unsaid. Needless to say, some of Tim's actions do result in increasingly obvious consequences.

Tim and Mary are fun to watch, their chemistry evident. Dramatic with dry comedic edges, you root for their success. Add in the light sci-fi angle and you have an intriguing and engrossing tale of sweet romance, no matter what time it is.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Ender's Game

ACTION, ADVENTURE

Theoretical Warfare

7.75 out of 10 | Movie or DVD

Rated: PG-13  Thematic material, some violence and sci-fi action
Release Date: November 1, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes

Director: Gavin Hood
Writers: 
Gavin Hood, based on the novel by Orson Scott Card
Cast: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis, Aramis Knight, Moises Arias



SYNOPSIS: The International Military seek out a leader who can save the human race from an alien attack. Ender Wiggin, a brilliant young mind, is recruited and trained to lead his fellow soldiers into a battle that will determine the future of Earth.

REVIEW: Gavin Hood, director of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, returns to the big screen after a short stint working for the small screen. Adapting the work of Orson Scott Card, Hood brings Ender Wiggins to screen at the perfect time.


50 years after an alien invasion by the Formic, Earth's military dedicates itself to enhancing its strategic preparedness to combat future extra-terrestrial threats. The International Military focuses on recruiting brilliant young boys and girls to train in the arts of war. Third child Ender Wiggins (Asa Butterfield, Hugo) follows in the footsteps of his older sister Valentine (Abigail Breslin, The Call) and his older brother Peter (Jimmy Pinchak, Let Me In). Competing to get into Battle School, Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford, 42) takes interest in Ender and pushes the young boy as far past his limits as he can. When Ender excels at all his schoolwork and tactical training, Graff promotes Ender to the orbiting space station for Battle School. Disliked, mistrusted or envied by the other 'Launchees', Ender must do everything he can to win over his fellow cadets. Rising up the ranks, Ender eventually finds himself face-to-face with endless simulation battles between the International Military and the planetary defenses of the Formic homeworld. Will Ender and his misfit squadron beat the Formic in a final simulation in order to graduate? And will they eventually be ready to face the true threat?

Based on the worldwide sci-fi bestseller novel 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, this adaptation remains as faithful as possible to the original story. Reading the novel as an adult, I have a greater appreciation for the story Card was telling. Not just a story of kids battling each other for supremacy in a academic school system – a la the Harry Potter franchise. Sure, the fate of the world between wizards and Muggles was threatened by Voldemort, but Ender's included the added components of having to save an entire planet from annihilation.

A sci-fi classic by Orson Scott card, 'Ender's Game' is the most accessible of the Enders stories for reading. As a series goes on, it gets more philosophical and deep. Cards later works, including 'Speaker for the Dead', 'Xenocide', and 'Children of the Mind', start to rival Frank Herbert's 'Dune' in terms of religion, philosophy, and exploration of xenomorphic entities. At the center of all the stories in the series, Ender struggles with is own nature, the solitary life he is forced to lead, and the choices he must make.

Ender's Game boasts a fine cast including Harrison Ford as Graff, Viola Davis (The Help) as Major Gwen Anderson, and Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) as Mazor Rackham. On the younger side Abigail Breslin plays Valentine, Moises Arias (The Kings of Summer) plays Bonzo Madrid, and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) plays Petra. But the jewel of the crown in casting is that of Ender, played by Asa Butterfield. He is not the normal the muscular and chiseled adolescent protagonist. His portrayal is wide-eyed with innocence, all the while struggling with his dual nature of violence and empathy.

On the strategic and tactical side Ender's Game uses wonderful CGI and wire work to bring to life scenes most integral to the story. From the zero gravity Arena at Battle School, to the mountain lake and skiff on Earth, to the captured forward Formic outpost that the International Military uses as a base of operations to plan assaults on the Formic homeworld. Ender's Game is a mirror of the book. The final simulated battle between the International Military and the Formic armada is rendered in beautiful detail with military precision. It is a sight to be seen, especially in IMAX.

Fans of Orson Scott Card's original and revised work should be thrilled at the adaptation to the silver screen. Now is the time when movie magic FX can tell this tale in grand style. For those who have not read the book, they will find enjoyment in every surprising twist or turn. Ender's Game is a superb sci-fi daylight, grounded in the mind of a young man on the precipice of greatness.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Dallas Buyers Club

DRAMA, DOCUMENTARY

Fight for Your Right to Live

7.75 out of 10 | DVD or Rental

Rated: R Pervasive language, nudity, drug use, and some strong sexual content
Release Date: November 1, 2013 (limited)
Runtime: 1 hour 57 minutes

Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Writers: Craig Borten, Melissa Wallack

Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jered Leto, Jennifer Garner, Denis O'Hare, Steve Zahn, Dallas Roberts, Michael O'Neill



SYNOPSIS:  The story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his search for alternative treatments that helped established a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies.

REVIEW: Director Jean-Marc Vallee, known for The Young Victoria, takes a script by Craig Borten and Melissa Wallack (Mirror Mirror) to bring the true story of early HIV-diagnosed Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his search for alternative medical treatments to combat the virus.


Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike) is a womanizing, cocaine snorting rodeo rider and electrician, taking bets on whether his competition can ride for 8 seconds. When he collapses on his trailer floor and follows that up with an electrical accident on the job, he is told that he has the HIV virus. Woodroof tried to get on an FDA drug trial of AZT. When he can't be guaranteed that he would receive the drug instead of a placebo, he pays off orderlies, and eventually travels to Mexico for the drug. In Mexico, he meets a doctor who explains that AZT is worse than the virus, sending Woodroof to come up with a plan to make a profit on drugs that seem to work. When he can't bring himself to associate with homosexuals, he partners with a transsexual (Jared Leto, Mr. Nobody) to bring the medication to the masses of HIV positive and AIDS afflicted people in Texas. All the while the FDA bullies Woodroof at every turn, confiscating and bringing charges against him for his unsanctioned drug program.

Matthew McConaughey joins Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, and Sean Penn as an actor who transforms his body to sell his character. Shedding on unhealthy amount of weight to play Woodroof, McConaughey is nearly unrecognizable. The one thing that remains is his distinctive voice and piercing eyes. Becoming a scarecrow thin version of David Wooderson in Dazed and Confused, adorns a long hairdo, porn mustache, and cowboy hat and boots. Sometimes an underrated A-list actor, McConaughey again proves why he is on the list. After a turn as male stripper mogul, he turns out to riveting and powerful performances in Mud and now for Dallas Buyers Club.

McConaughey is not alone in his brilliant performance. Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner also turn and inspired efforts. Leto, as the pre-op transsexual Rayon, is both beautiful and bitching. He/she commands and demands attention, for good and bad. Garner, as Dr. Eve Saks, plays her role with subtlety and grace. Steve Zahn's police officer, who shows up periodically throughout the film, reflects that McConaughey's Woodroof was well liked in spite of his antics.

The story is both an account of the pandemic that was the death sentence of the HIV virus and AIDS in the 80s and a quasi-documentary on the politics and lobbying that latched itself in and around the Food and Drug Administration. Much of the film deals with Woodroof's attempts to battle against the FDA and the way they do business. As AZT works its way through the FDA approval process, it shows that the government agency, the pharmaceutical companies, and even the courts make it impossible to believe that the best interests of terminal patients was in mind.

Dallas Buyers Club is a David and Goliath tale, as well as a story of man battling against his own mortality. When Ron Woodroof first succumbs to his diagnosis he does everything in his power to heal himself. Once he heals himself - and lines his pockets - he realizes there is greater work to be done.

Another feather of excellence for McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club is a slowly spun tale of survival and perseverance. Paced to capture every nuance of the characters and their fights, this story is both important and relevant, showing far we have come as a society. Even so, tolerance and acceptance is still a fleeting ideal in some cases. Dallas Buyers Club has an indie feel and sensibility to it, not pulling any punches to bring Ron Woodroof's story to life.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Freebirds

ANIMATED, FAMILY

Thanks for Giving

6.5 out of 10 | Rental

Rated: PG Animated action
Release Date: November 1, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes

Director: Jimmy Hayward
Writers: Jimmy Hayward, Scott Mosier, David I. Stern, John J. Strauss

Cast: Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler, Colm Meaney, Keith David, Dan Fogler, Jimmy Hayward



SYNOPSIS:  Two turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks must put aside their differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history - and get turkey off the holiday menu for good.

REVIEW: Jimmy Hayward, director of Horton Hears a Who! and Jonah Hex, returns to animation to bring us the self-proclaimed Greatest Thanksgiving film of all time. Hayward also writes the film with the help from Scott Mosier, David I. Stern and John J. Strauss.


Turkey Reggie (Owen Wilson, The Internship) finds himself at the losing end of trying to convince his farm brothers that the farmer is just trying to fatten them up for Thanksgiving dinners. When Reggie is pardoned by the President of the United States, he switches a life at the end of an axe handle for a life of pizza and relaxation at Camp David. One night, Reggie is visited by another turkey Jake (Woody Harrelson, Zombieland) who is convinced that he and Reggie must travel back in time to stop turkeys from being on the menu at the first Thanksgiving between the pilgrims and the local Indians. Actually finding a time machine with the acronym S.T.E.V.E. (George Takei) to take the duo back in time, Reggie and Jake meet intelligence and resource turkeys hiding from the pilgrims led by Chief Broadbeak (Keith David), his son Ranger (Jimmy Hayward) and his daughter Jenny (Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation). The only things standing in the way of the turkeys' safety are the pilgrim's greedy and gluttonous Governor Bradford (Dan Fogler) and his driven turkey hunter Captain Myles Standish (Colm Meaney).

How many animated films are there with the theme of turkeys and Thanksgiving? A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? Mouse on the Mayflower? A few select others? Hayward's claim of Freebirds as the greatest Thanksgiving movie of all time probably will not hold true. Centered on the plight of the turkeys themselves, Freebirds is a slick flick similar to recent animated effort Epic.

Freebirds looks good, every plume and feather in place. Hayward's experience as an animator for Pixar truly came in handy for this film. The problem with Freebirds, as well as the aforementioned Epic, is that as an animation the film is colorful and kinetic but not that amusing. Usually, an animated film has something for both the children and for the parents or adults. This time, other than a few cries during Captain Standish's scary pursuits and a few awwws for the baby turkey puffs, there was not enough to provide more than a few chuckles.

Owen Wilson does have a great drawl for voice work, and Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler are capable. Colm Meaney is mean as Standish - or is he just drawn that way. I could listen to Keith David all day long. But with just an adequate story to tell, all the glitz of CGI and all the talented voices cannot get this turkey off the table.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Last Vegas

COMEDY

It's Going to Be Legend... Where are we?

7.5 out of 10 | Rental

Rated: PG-13 Sexual content and language
Release Date: November 1, 2013
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes

Director: Jon Turteltaub
Writers: Dan Fogelman

Cast: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline, Mary Steenburgen, Jerry Ferrara, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Roger Bart



SYNOPSIS: Three sixty-something friends take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal.

REVIEW: National Treasure franchise director Jon Turteltaub ditches his favorite actor Nicolas Cage for some more mature A-listers. Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love.) takes a stab at writing a story centered in Las Vegas that doesn't involve losing time and memory.



Billy (Michael Douglas, Haywire), Paddy (Robert De Niro, The Family), Sam (Kevin Kline, The Conspirator) and Archie (Morgan Freeman, Now You See Me) are lifelong friends who grew up on the streets of Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, USA, inseparable and thick as thieves. 58 years later, Billy unexpectedly proposes to his 32-year-old girlfriend at his mentors funeral. Deciding on a Las Vegas wedding, Billy calls his best friends to join him. Archie must lie to his son as to his whereabouts. Sam is given a hall pass from his wife in an effort to bring some life back into their marriage. Paddy goes with his friends, reluctant to leave his empty widowers house and reluctant to let go of the beef he has with Billy. Gambling, dancing, drinking, hot girls, and a lounge singer named Diane (Mary Steenburgen, The Help) make the trip fun... and complicated.

This is not the old man version of The Hangover, even though the location is the same. They do call Las Vegas 'Sin City', and it is appropriate for older men to reflect on the regrets in the sense of their past. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… But can these older gentlemen learn new lessons from their life experiences to make it worthwhile? Morgan's Archie wants to be the man he once was before the stroke made everyone in his life think he was incapable of doing anything at all. Kline's Sam has lived in a marriage with a wife he loves and is comfortable with, but has lost his passion for life. De Niro's Patty sits in his bathrobe and accepts soup from the neighbor girl like a charity case. And Douglas' Billy lives in extravagant life with a young girlfriend, all in an effort to stave away old age.

Filled with geriatric jokes and based on a formulaic plotline, this Vegas tale does manage to amuse throughout. Billy's relationship with his soon-to-be wife is instantly called into question when he swoons over the lounge singer Diane when the quartet arrive at Binion's Casino. From that point forward you know that the wedding probably will be called off at some point. Will Sam find his mojo with some young hottie that will strengthen his marriage? That I will not reveal. And will De Niro's Paddy bury the hatchet with Billy or will he bury the hatchet in him for what he's done to him and his late wife Sophie.?

Do these men still have it? Every one of these actors is a superstar A-Lister. From The Godfather to Basic Instinct to Glory to Dave, these guys still got it. They may be slowing down a few steps but they can still spin a good yarn that entertains both young and old. They poke fun at themselves and each other when it comes to their age, making the film funny for us. Nobody want to see old dudes getting it on with young women but these guys clean up nice and keep everything is PG as possible.

Coupled with Jerry Ferrara and Romany Malco to give Las Vegas a little younger edge, its still Douglas, De Niro, Freeman and Kline who make sure to have the times of their lives. Getting old is not a laughing matter, but they make us want to see what it may be all about.