Years ago, a film starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline would be the stuff movie lovers could only dream about. With Jon Turteltaub’s 2013 film, Las Vegas, this becomes reality. But at this point of their careers, does the super team-up still have the same meaning? Not quite. While the actors don’t completely sleepwalk through Last Vegas, it’s watered down by typically lazy filmmaking tendencies that disappoint.
Last Vegas tells the story of four 60-year-old friends who gather in Las Vegas to throw a bachelor party for their friend Billy (Michael Douglas), who is finally getting married. Only the girl he’s marrying is nearly half his age. Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline) are on board to go when Billy invites them, only they are burdened with the task of convincing Patty (Robert De Niro), the last member of their group, to come with them. Paddy and Billy aren’t on good terms, and it takes a good deal of convincing, and tricks, to get him to come.
What ensues when they get to Las Vegas includes many hijinks and activities that are what a Hangover film with the elderly would consist of. With the acting abilities of these four legendary actors, surprisingly the film has some bright spots going for it. Only with every good thing, the film negates it by throwing in unnecessary, lazy jokes, typical of Hollywood cash cow comedies. It’s a shame, as there are surprising moments to be found in Last Vegas, which include the value of friendship, and being able to forgive those close to you for wrongdoings over time. These are things that all of us go through especially as we approach older years. What friendships are worth saving, and at what point can you forgive someone?
The conflict that ensues between Billy and Paddy is the film’s strong suit, for sure. Just when they start to see eye to eye again for the first time in years, they stumble upon Vegas cocktail singer Diana (Mary Steenburgen) who they both immediately fall for. This brings up the issues of their past, as they both loved the same girl as kids. It’s up to Archie and Sam to try to keep the friends at ease, while also balancing their own issues. Archie is hounded by his overbearing son Ezra (Michael Ealy) and Sam is conflicted on what to do after his wife (Joanna Gleason) gives him a free pass to do what he wants while there, no questions asked.
There are some human moments brought out by these characters that are at times actually heartfelt and genuine. It’s just a shame that they get wiped away by thins such as a cameo appearances by LMFAO’s Redfoo at a Bikini contest and childish humor. These are the sort of things that took me out of any emotion that I was starting to feel while watching. The actors do their best considering what they’re working. It did look like they had some fun with their roles. The fault is at Turteltaub and screenwriter Dan Fogelman for taking the lazy comedic routes which made the film much less than it could have been.
A sequel is hinted at, and is probably already in production knowing Hollwyood. Last Vegas isn’t as bad as it could have been (I was expecting much worse), which makes its problems hurt that much more. It had some stuff going for it, but at the end of the day it didn’t stay true to itself and tripped on its own two feet.
Join the conversation