Well you're never going to convince me that someone who looks like Ann-Margret is going to wind up marrying a character like John Gustafson. I know, I know, it happens in real life sometimes; it's just that you're not going to convince me of it.
But if you like to see a couple of old codgers go at it hammer and tong, then you'll get a kick out of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in this flick. Amicable enemies since childhood, they never let an opportunity for a good zinger go by, but underneath it all you know they have a soft spot for each other. It took that hospital scene to bring it out when Max (Matthau) had to break down and call Gustafson 'friend' in order to see him. Good timing there too, as you had to watch him think about it.
By the time this picture was made, I guess you could say Ann-Margret was no spring chicken herself, but she can sure carry her age better than most. I like the way she challenged Gus to seek out new things, a bit of a subliminal message in the picture as a takeaway for anyone watching to stay young at heart. Sadly, most of the principals from the film have passed on (Lemmon, Matthau and Burgess Meredith), but with their movies and comedy as a legacy, they'll keep many a generation young at heart for a long time.
But if you like to see a couple of old codgers go at it hammer and tong, then you'll get a kick out of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in this flick. Amicable enemies since childhood, they never let an opportunity for a good zinger go by, but underneath it all you know they have a soft spot for each other. It took that hospital scene to bring it out when Max (Matthau) had to break down and call Gustafson 'friend' in order to see him. Good timing there too, as you had to watch him think about it.
By the time this picture was made, I guess you could say Ann-Margret was no spring chicken herself, but she can sure carry her age better than most. I like the way she challenged Gus to seek out new things, a bit of a subliminal message in the picture as a takeaway for anyone watching to stay young at heart. Sadly, most of the principals from the film have passed on (Lemmon, Matthau and Burgess Meredith), but with their movies and comedy as a legacy, they'll keep many a generation young at heart for a long time.