Grumpy Old Men

Grumpy Old Men

The most rewarding films, in terms of the most enjoyment, aren’t always the ones that critics rate highly. While a movie like Grumpy Old Men is definitely one of the fan favorites, it will never compare to Farewell My Concubine in terms of outstanding cinematic craftsmanship. On the other side of the fence, however, Grumpy Old Men is a movie that if it makes it anywhere near the tenth best movie of 1993, I won’t be surprised at all. Since almost all of the film is very laughable, it is likely to be one of the best guilty pleasures of 1993.

John Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau) have been neighbors since they were kids, which means that the feud has essentially lasted the same amount of time. Call it an uneasy détente, because there’s name calling and practical jokes, and some mutual affection, but not much more than that. Most of these incidents escalate though, when the new woman across the street captures the attention of both men. When we first meet John and Max, they have one cloud over their heads: Ariel (Ann- Margaret). Ariel is beautiful, charismatic and flirtatious, making both John and Max her victims within moments.

Although fairly limited in scope (some of them immediately stand out), Grumpy Old Men tends to be successful more often than not. It is a frothy, old-fashioned entertainment that the grown-ups can switch off to and enjoy during the festive season. As a comedy, the film has enough new jokes to bring the required laughter. Dramatically, though, it is quite weak. There are formulas at work here, and those claiming to be shocked at the ‘twists’ in the storyline need to be ashamed of themselves.

Luckily, it is the case that drama is generally of secondary importance and this is an always funny film anyway. There is everything from ridicule to word play, and much more with tons of witty references and jokes. Watching Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau pretend to sing along to the tune of I’m too sexy the song, Lemmon mocking Macaulay Calkin’s over the top aftershave scream in home alone, and a snippet of Lemmon dancing in his underwear. Perhaps the best part of the film are the end credit cuts where they show some bloopers from the final scene.

Lemmon and Matthau play their parts as ‘frenemies’ excellently as they have been doing in various other movies especially The Odd Couple. They are perfect for the role that Burgess Meredith has to play the vulgar patriarch of the Gustafson family.

So Ann-Margaret, in her role as the cause of the new phase in the feud between the Gustafsons and the Goldmans, is not particularly brilliant, and it must be said that her performance is active but rather pale. We see little of Kevin Pollack and Daryl Hannah. Ossie Davis, very professional as he is, plays a rather part that could have been ordinary but makes it extraordinary.

Most people probably who see Grumpy Old Men will leave the cinema happily and that’s what this film is all about. The overwrought melodramatic elements are divorced from lowering the movie going experience appreciably. I would not have any better plans for Christmas than spending time with John Gustafson and Max Goldman. They might be grumpy and hardheaded but are entertaining as long as you are not at the dinner table with them.

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