Movie Review: Stand Up Guys (2013)
Written by Anthony Sargon
When a movie stars three of the most respected performers in Hollywood, there's a certain standard that needs to be met. While "Stand Up Guys" manages to be mildly entertaining, it definitely doesn't live up to its full potential.
Val (Al Pacino) has just gotten out of prison after 28 years of being locked up for not revealing the name of one of his criminal associates. When he reunites with his old friends Doc (Christopher Walken) and Hirsch (Alan Arkin), the three of them go out for one last hurrah. Doc, however, has been assigned one final job, and it's not one he's eager to carry out.
"Stand Up Guys" is not a bad movie, it's just not particularly entertaining. A lot of the dialogue is a little cheesy, and plenty of jokes fail to hit their mark. For a movie about aging ex-mobsters out on the town, that's pretty disappointing. The only reason the audience is the least bit invested is because of Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Alan Arkin. While none of them give a groundbreaking performance, their presence does a lot to elevate the proceedings.
The movie does touch on some interesting themes, like not being able to truly wash away your past, facing your own mortality, and being forgotten. It's just a shame that the material doesn't go deeper into these issues, and you can tell that there's a more serious, heartfelt story buried underneath what's unfolding on screen.
After a year of extremely long movies, "Stand Up Guys" clocks in at a refreshingly brief 94 minutes, and it needn't be a single minute longer. Even with such a short running time, Director Fisher Stevens keeps things moving at a pretty slow pace, and the film ends up feeling longer than it actually is.
Anthony's Verdict:
"Stand Up Guys" is a serviceable mob flick/comedy, but it's neither ponderous enough to resonate as a drama, nor funny enough to be an effective comedy.
Numerical Score: 6/10
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