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The Actors are Mortal, The Comedy Eternal, 14 July 2002
Author:
xflrocks ([email protected]) from PA, USA
The opening credits in this film roll to the tune of "Heat Wave", and it
was
during
a recent heat wave that I dusted off my well-worn copy of "Grumpy Old Men"
and
settled in to once again watch the first of four movies that made up the
"second
coming" of the Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau team. To those who have not yet
seen the movie, (yes, there may be a few) it was set (and filmed) in snowy
Minnesota, which give the film an authentic small town feel that the
talented set
designers of Hollywood would be hard pressed to duplicate. From the stars'
first
lines in the film ("'Morning ****head", "Hello moron") we know what to
expect,
and the movie doesn't disappoint us. The verbal sparring between Max and
John continues non-stop through 100+ laugh filled minutes. Both the plot
and
the ending are not quite believable, but who really cares? For those who
want
reality, there are many depressing films out there, not to mention the
news-
papers and CNN.
I have never read if all the cast members were the first choices for the
parts, but
every one of the cast fits their roles perfectly. Ann-Margret has evolved
from her
dancing, grinding "sexpot" image in the 60's to a wonderful, natural
actress.
Burgess Meredith....what can I say? He's perfect as John's father, a
crusty,
lovable old man. The interplay between Jack and Burgess is so easy, and
why
not? Who better to play a 94 year old than the 80+ year old
Meredith.
While Burgess is lovable, Daryl Hannah is lovely. As John's daughter
Melanie, I
have never seen her look more beautiful and heart-melting as she does in
this
picture. Ozzie Davis, Kevin Pollak, and Buck Henry round out the cast, and
bring their many talents to the picture.
While much has been written about the comedy, very little is said about the
realistic side of "Grumpy Old Men". There are a few fleeting scenes that
reveal
the heartache and loneliness of growing old. And John's dealings with the
I.R.S. in the movie, while hilarious, points out what can happen when the
machine-like IRS process starts to roll over an individual not caring about
the
human-real life side of the situation.
The only "downer" for me in again watching this movie is the knowlege that
the
string is over. Walter and Jack and Burgess are gone. I can't watch this
movie
without feeling just a tinge of sorrow. When most actors their age pass
on,
we
feel sorrow, and then watch their classics from decades ago. With Walter
and
Jack the best was yet to come. I have read elsewhere that scripts were in
the
works for "Grumpy Old Men 3" and "Odd Couple 3". Who knows how many
more successful films this brilliant team could have made together. I
doubt
if the
formula for their success would have grown stale, because both Walter and
Jack no longer acted....their roles where just an extension of themselves.
Whether it be Grumpy or Grumpier Old Men, "Odd Couple II", or "Out to Sea"
we
were as much visiting with old friends as we were watching a movie. Old
friends
get more endearing with age, and we would have never tired of new visits
from
them, no matter what the role.
Burgess, Jack, and Walter.....wherever you are...thanks for the laughs
you've
given us over the years. You made us feel good, which is the best epitaph
anyone could wish for.
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