Last Vegas Blu-ray Review
Eric Sloss
February 16th, 2014
You would think that LAST VEGAS would be “The Hangover” for the AARP crowd. That is not the case. You would also think that a film with five Oscar winners would be more interesting. You would be mistaken. Sadly LAST VEGAS is a perfectly pleasant film that is perfectly forgettable.
Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline and Mary Steenburgen are the aforementioned Oscar winners in this comedy. Douglas plays Billy, the groom-to-be. He’s been a playboy all his life and has never been married. At a funeral of his mentor, he pops the question to his half his age girlfriend. Her name is not important because she is immaterial to the story and is invisible throughout. Billy has been friends for 60 years with Sam (Kline), Archie (Freeman) and Paddy (De Niro). They are the Flatbush Four. Admittedly that is a catchy name. The beginning of the movie establishes their friendship with a flashback from 58 years ago.
Archie and Sam plan a bachelor party for Billy in Las Vegas. Paddy is a tougher sell because he is not on good terms with Billy. This tension revolves around Billy not coming to Paddy’s wife’s funeral. Paddy is tricked into going by the other two. Paddy hasn’t been out of his apartment much since his wife’s death and mainly mopes around in his bathrobe. Archie recently had a minor stroke and his son is concerned about his health. His son treats him like a kid, so Archie is up for having some fun. Sam has been happily married for 40 years, but he’s in a rut. Before Sam leaves for Vegas, his wife gives him a condom and a Viagara pill. She’s giving him a pass, so he’ll be revived again. This is something that probably only happens in the movies.
When the quartet reaches Vegas, they meet up with a lounge singer named Diana (Steenburgen). What a coincidence for these guys to find someone close to their age to connect with?! Diana has instant rapport with Billy and Paddy. This was similar to what happened years ago with these two characters. They fought over a girl. Paddy eventually married this girl, but there’s more to that story than meets the eye.
There is nothing surprising about LAST VEGAS. It is one of the most predictable films that I’ve seen in quite a while. Every move is telegraphed from a mile away. Archie wins a lot of money at blackjack in a record amount of time. The group gets set up in the nicest suite at the Aria. Aria does get some sweet product placement throughout. A bikini contest is being run by none other than Redfoo. And who do you think will judge this contest? It really is a nothing scene only put in to show off the assets of some Playboy playmates and for Redfoo to put his package in De Niro’s face. Oh what fun.
Archie uses his winnings to get everyone into a happening club. This is where a fetching twenty something comes on to Sam. Only in Hollywood where the screenplay demands it does this occur. You can pretty much guess what happens with that situation. There is also a lame storyline where Turtle from Entourage disrespects the legends and is made to believe that they are mobsters from the East coast. So he waits on them hand and foot for fear of bodily injury. The scene where he is led to believe this lie is remarkably tone deaf in the amount of humor expected from it.
There is a big party in their suite where secrets are revealed, feelings are hurt and big decisions are made. It is all a bit melodramatic.
LAST VEGAS is a film that won’t show up in any highlight package for these fine actors. They all look like they are having a blast, but I wish I could say it was enjoyable to watch.
LAST VEGAS BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: Features 1080p High Definition /2:40:1
Sound: The sound is in 5.1 DTS DTS-HD MA
Filmmaker Commentary with Jon Turteltaub and Dan Fogelman: Informative commentary with the director and writer of the film. You get to learn some interesting facts about locations, actors used and key background about scenes.
It’s Going to be Legendary (3:14): The four leads and the director discuss their characters and story of the film.
Four Legends (2:58): This is a discussion about working with these legendary actors. You learn that none of them had ever worked with any of the others.
Flatbush Four (1:37): A quick talk about how the characters were friends since childhood and got that nickname back then.
Shooting in Sin City (2:48): This is self explanatory. This is all about shooting in Vegas. Interestingly a lot of the film was shot in Atlanta.
The Redfoo Party (1:58): The bikini contest is talked about.
Supporting Ensemble (2:21): The supporting players are propped up.
Previews
[fbcomments]
