Too Sexy For Their Wrinkles

Seriously Sexy Seasonal Senior Silliness

Grumpy Old Men (1993) – Two lifelong rivals (now senior citizens) vie for the affections of a beautiful new neighbor. They have razzed and pranked each other for most of their lives. But now they discover they mean more to each other than they realized.

Directed by Donald Petrie

Starring Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Ann-Margaret, Burgess Meredith, Daryl Hannah, Ossie Davis

Why I Liked It – Two of the great comedic stars get together to great effect.

This is the kind of movie that “serious” film critics look down their noses at in reviews. It works an established formula, and it’s comfortable rather than sophisticated. They huff and puff about the “shortcomings” and will, grudgingly, give the movie a middling grade. Guess what? A very large portion of the movie audience is just fine with that kind of movie. It’s a rom-com with a pair of the all-time greats leading the way, and a veteran cast of quality supporting actors.

Grab some popcorn, sit back, relax, and let the movie entertain you. It’s a perfect movie for between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

John Gustafson (Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Matthau) have known each other all their lives. Their rivalry reaches back as far as either can remember. Now in their 60s, they live next door to one another and spend their time in mutual antagonism and mean pranks. When Ariel (Margaret) moves in across the street, they are both smitten. The old rivalry has a new focus and they are off and running. Before everything is said and done, the story will involve dead fish, the IRS, and both a death and near death experience.

If you love finely tuned snark, you’ll love this movie. The script gives Lemmon and Matthau plenty of room to swing for the fences with their performances. The duo would eventually work together ten times (this is movie number six on the list). Their chemistry is perfect (if you haven’t seen them in the 1968 classic “The Odd Couple”, you should do that next.), and they are brilliant on their own. If you want to explore some older movies, pulling up either of their careers would be an excellent place to start. Matthau specializes in his role here, the grumpy, even bitter man who hides a heart of gold. Lemmon is best known for his well-meaning, but often profoundly annoying man caught in a situation he can’t control. Add in the ever lovely Ann Margaret as the adventurous English professor, Ossie Davis in a small role as the long-time friend exhausted of their bickering, Darryl Hannah as Lemon’s daughter, and a fabulous offering from Burgess Meredith as the mildly demented Gustafson, Sr., and you have the perfect set up for some good old fashioned fun.

And that’s what this is, old-fashioned fun. Don’t expect more of it than it has to offer. Even the two stars didn’t think the movie would amount to much. It became one of the surprise hits of the year. It should be a holiday season staple.

Rating – **** Recommended