“Going in Style” is a laugh-out-loud, humor-filled movie that features Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, and Ann-Margret. An example of the humor is when a doctor tells Willie (Freeman) that he needs a new kidney. “I’ll look on eBay,” Willie replies. Willie is good friends with Joe (Caine) and Albert (Arkin) and the three of them become totally ticked off when their old company decides to move to Viet Nam, “freezing” their pension, which really means restructuring the company’s funds with the bank. As all three rely on their pensions, it puts them all in a bind. Joe is in danger of losing his home and gets no help from the bank. While at the bank, he watches while the bank is robbed. He isn’t harmed, but he does have a light bulb go on over his head. Maybe a “heist” with help from Willie and Albert might turn things around for the three of them.
Another comedic moment in the movie is when Joe and Willie decide to rob the local grocery store (before the planned bank robbery) and they put really big grocery items in their shirts and pants, such as a pork roast, a chicken, and a bag of flour—a bit obvious when they leave the store. Of course they are caught, but the store manager has mercy on them, even giving them coupons for future purchases. One of the best scenes takes place before they are caught, when Joe has Willie get inside a basket on top of a handicapped scooter, and he says he feels like “E.T. in the basket!”
The picture includes themes of love, as Willie misses his granddaughter and Albert surprisingly finds love. Regrettably, the movie features strong language, drug use, and sexual activity and we therefore unfortunately cannot award the film our Dove Family-Approved Seal.
