GOING IN STYLE

Morgan Freeman   Michael Caine   Alan Arkin   Matt Dillon  

Joey King   Peter Serafinowicz   Ann Margret   Kenan Thompson

      Going in Style is primarily a comedy, highlighting its three main stars (Freeman, Caine, Arkin), their struggles with aging, and the mixture of easy camaraderie and insults going on between them.  It’s a remake of the 1979 Going in Style with George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strassberg. As in the previous version, to spice it up, a bit of “justifiable” crime antics loosely akin to that in the recent Hell or High Water (at least in its rationale) make it much more interesting.  It plays on the immediate fears of older people today about their pensions and Social Security and the anger toward contemporary banks for their misbehavior. 

     Joe (Caine) is in a bad place because he is financing his granddaughter’s education; Willie has major kidney problems that need attention, and Albert (Arkin) is simply trying to survive.  When the company they worked for, for years, pulls the rug out from under them, they have to figure out a plan.  About the same time that Joe is having discussions with his obtuse, unsympathetic banker who sold him a policy that eventually tripled his mortgage payment (reminiscent of hundreds of such scams in our recent past), thieves hold up the bank.  When they get away with a million plus dollars, Joe says, “Hmmm…”

     The film proceeds formulaically like a comedy show with precise timing of jokes, human interest segments, and clever twists of plot.  A romantic connection is clearly inserted to appease those who need that element.  But the major twist toward the end involves an astute child wise beyond her years.  I guess it was the only way the filmmakers could get out of a bit of a mess, and it will surely please most of the audience. 

     Directed by Zach Braff (Garden State, Wish I was Here), a man much younger than the character and actors, it helps us empathize with so many older Americans who have lost their pensions to corporate thoughtlessness, greed, and bank scams.  Leads Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin are all pros who have worked together previously in various combinations, and they give gravitas to the production.  Strong supporting roles are played by Dillon, Margret, Thompson, and King.  The soundtrack and original music of Rob Simonsen provide entertaining, lyrical tunes as an accompaniment.

An updated, timely version of three old friends’ lives.

Grade:  C+                                    By Donna R. Copeland

ROCK DOG

Voices of:  Luke Wilson   Eddie Izzard   J. K. Simmons   Lewis Black   Matt Dillon   Sam Elliott

     Rock Dog is a Chinese-American 3D computer-animated film, based on a popular Chinese graphic novel, Tibetan Rock Dog by Zheng Jun, a Chinese rock star.  The film originated in China and has Chinese backers, but is directed by American Ash Bannon and animated by an American studio, Reel FX.  It’s a great movie for children, with its simple but heartwarming story and thoughtful treatment of stealing, fear mongering, mistrust and hatred of strangers, honesty, and pomposity.  The characters and sets are well drawn, with sharp lines and bold colors. 

      Bodi (Wilson) is a mastiff living on Snow Mountain with his father who wants him to follow in his own footsteps and become a guard against wolves in a community where sheep production and products is its main industry.  Wolves haven’t attacked in years, but Khampa (Simmons) wants to be prepared just in case.  Actually, the wolves have stayed away from Snow Mountain because they heard that Khampa had recruited and trained a huge army of dogs for protection.  In fact, Khampa has simply dressed up sheep to look like ferocious guard dogs—a twist on the admonition, “Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing”—a clever joke for adults in the audience.

     The thrust of the story is about Bodi’s wanting to pursue his own dream of being a musician and “finding my band.”  Khampa is disdainful of this idea and uses all kinds of ruses to make Bodi change his mind.  But Bodi has an advocate in his father’s friend, Fleetwood Yak (Elliott), who counsels the father to allow his son to go to the city and chase his dream.

     Bodi has been further encouraged by his listening to a radio that was accidentally dropped from the sky out of an airplane, landing right in front of him in a meadow.  He turns it on and is thrilled that it has rock stations playing music all the time, as well as interviews with stars.  One of these is Angus Scattergood (Izzard), a current rock idol.  Bodi is sure Angus is talking directly to him in his encouragement to play, play, play his guitar, and success will surely come, just as it did for Angus.

     When Khampa finally gives his permission for his son to go to the city, Bodi goes and looks for Rock Park where musicians hang out.  He meets a trio, and one teases him by advising him to go to Scattergood’s house and be extremely persistent in getting the star to give him music lessons.  The naïve Bodi takes off immediately.  Of course, this is dangerous, because the star has rigged his house with electrical wires and booby traps to keep visitors away.  But through complicated events, persistence, luck, and his good nature, Bodi gets through the door. 

     This is not enough, however, because proud, pretentious Angus is horrified at the thought of mentoring anyone so humble.  To make matters worse, Bodi is being chased by urban wolves led by ruthless, unscrupulous Linnux (Black), who wants to use him to blackmail Khampa and gain entrance to Snow Mountain.  Fortunately, Bodi’s good nature wins him friends and support from two of the rock musicians he met in the park and even Angus’ robot butler, Oz, so he still has a chance to fulfill his dream.

     Rock Dog, directed by Ash Bannon, is well paced for children, is the right length, and uses mixtures of adventure, thrills, and emotional elements to tell a good story.  Music by Rolfe Kent is effective, especially the song, “Glorious” (composed, produced, and performed by Adam Friedman).

An engaging and well crafted cross-cultural animated film.

Grade:  B+                                    By Donna R. Copeland