“Going in Style”

LOUISA: 

LOUISA SAYS:

There’s no much substance to “Going in Style,” the latest in a long line of forgettable films from actor-turned-director Zach Braff. It’s light, airy, and inoffensive, a big screen version of a movie that really should’ve been relegated to network television. There’s zero creativity in this wholly unmemorable movie and not only does it not go in style, it goes nowhere.

In this remake of a 70s era film starring George Burns and Art Carney, three old farts (Michael Caine, Alan Arkin and Morgan Freeman) decide to rob a bank to take back their stolen pensions. It’s a classic heist story that’s as boring as they come. The entire project needs a jolt of energy to liven it up, and not even Braff’s trademark obnoxious hipster indie soundtrack helps.

There’s not much acting at all from anyone except Freeman, and the leads feel like they are just sitting around riffing about being old as the elderly often do (at least they have a decent chemistry playing longtime friends). Arkin brings back his shouting curmudgeon act and Caine is bumbling around like he has no idea where he is most of the time. These are all likeable legacy actors but even 80 year olds deserve better material.

Everyone loves a “let’s give the big, bad bank a what-fer” plot, but this generic, by-the-numbers heist story doesn’t yield any surprises and has very few laughs. It’s not really a drama and it’s not really a comedy, and it’s as forgettable as they come.

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