Review: Stand Up Guys

Al Pacino is Val, a con who is released after just under 30 years behind bars for a fatally botched armed robbery, and greeted by his old buddy Doc (Christopher Walken), who was also involved in the robbery but Val never ratted him or anyone else out. Doc is as docile and reticent (he spends his days watching TV and painting, mostly) as Val is hyper and horny, but Val wants to party and screw like crazy and Doc hasn’t the energy or the heart to argue or tell him to slow down. There’s a reason for that, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. So it’s off to nightclubs and whorehouses (run by Lucy Punch, which doesn’t sound like any brothel I’d frequent. Wait…I mean…anyway) they go as Val has a whole lotta hell-raising to catch up on, clearly ignoring the fact that his body is not quite working at full-speed anymore. At one point they even spring former getaway driver Hirsch (Alan Arkin, natch) out of the old folks’ home to let the old guy live a little too (He wants to go to the brothel as well!). But it’s not all fun and games, Doc has been ordered by gangster Mark Margolis to rub Val out. You see, the gangster’s son was killed in the botched robbery Val was put in prison for, and is putting all kinds of pressure on Doc. Julianna Margulies plays an ER nurse (yep) and Arkin’s daughter, Kathryn Winnick plays a hooker, and Addison Timlin plays Doc’s favourite diner waitress, whose real identity won’t be too hard for smart viewers to ascertain.

 

Although it got a wide US release in 2013, this comedy-drama was made in 2012, and seems to have only surfaced in Australia on cable in early 2015, after bypassing theatres altogether here (The presence of Lionsgate and about four other companies explains a whole helluva lot). It’s not the greatest thing any of the principal actors have ever turned up in, but this film from director Fisher Stevens (yes, the goofy inventor from the “Short Circuit” films is a director now) and first-time screenwriter Noah Haidle still gets by on the charms of its stars. For some, that’ll be enough, and for me…it’s better than nothing, and hey it sure beats the shit out of “Jack & Jill” and those irritating cawfee ads Pacino has been turning up in recently. God I hate those things. And the way Pacino pronounces cawwwwwfee. It’s coffee, you tit.

 

Christopher Walken is especially impressive here. For some reason, the guy seems to get better with age, and yet, he’s always been fun to watch, hasn’t he? It seems that way, but lately in films like this and “Performance” (AKA “A Late Quartet”) his dramatic chops have become particularly impressive in this. He’s no longer just that oddball actor with the most idiosyncratic dialogue delivery of anyone not named Jeff Goldblum. He’s a really fantastic dramatic character actor (and a fine comedic one when called upon), maybe the key to him seeming to improve with age is simply life experience or depth. It’s ostensibly a comedy, but you really know Walken and Pacino are pros when they can make you feel something in such a silly assignment as this. The film really has something interesting and affecting here about mortality, in amongst the silliness and clichés.

 

Pacino and I don’t always get along, but he made some fantastic films in the 70s and 80s, before ‘Shouty Al’ seemed to take over even in otherwise terrific films like “Heat”. He’s genuinely funny at times here, he seems so wired that you’d swear he just got off the set of “Scarface” if y’know what I mean. But for once, hyper Al actually works in favour of the film, and he also brings a sense of weariness to the role that actually touches you. I have no idea why Pacino and Walken paraphrase the signature line from “They Live”, but I bet Rowdy Roddy Piper will be moved to tears when he hears about it. I honestly couldn’t believe my ears when I heard it. Viagra jokes are usually awful and cheap, but the one here isn’t too bad, and a scene in a diner reminded me of at least two different Pacino films (You should instinctively know which two). It’s a real shame Arkin doesn’t get to stick around long, because his brief work is terrific. However, the difference is made up by memorable work from the underrated Mark Margolis (who has been around forever and always solid, but really only got notice from “Breaking Bad”) and an actress named Addison Timlin, whom I’ve never seen before and I really, really want to see in every movie ever made from now on. She’s got something, and I need it real bad. She seems…lovely. Y’know? Julianna Margulies, meanwhile, branches out by playing an ER nurse. Thank you, I’m here all week. Try the lobster.

 

Is this movie any good? No, not really, but there are moments. All three stars are on their game and make a good team, even if Alan Arkin gets pulled out of the game very quickly here. They are fun to watch, even in something disposable like this. Seeing Walken and Pacino share the screen really is something to witness, especially if you’re a fan. An undercurrent of sadness here helps, too, as does the fantastic 70s funk/soul soundtrack (Including ‘When Something is Wrong With My Baby’). I need to buy the CD, it’s more memorable than the film itself. Jon Bon Jovi gets credited with songs, but I swear the only one I heard was at the end credits, the rest was all soul/funk music. Neither the best nor worst film of its type.

 

Rating: C+