Film Review: Last Vegas
- Shelby Gellately — The Muse (Memorial University)
- in Arts, Film, Review
ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline are men in their 60s. For the recently released Last Vegas they have been best friends for over fifty of those years. There are lots of laughs, yet the focus does emphasize the themes of life, death, family and friends. The pacing of the movie is a little uneven; at some points the movie seems to drag on, and at others it seems to move quickly. The ending is also a bit predictable; however, happy endings are almost required for this kind of movie.
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It was very easy to become attached to the characters as they move through the movie. I’m only in my twenties and the artistic style in the beginning helped me understand the struggles, loneliness and tedious lives the four face. At first, this is done in a slow somber tone, but it picks up when the friends call one another following Douglas’s character’s engagement to a young woman. After some drama, the men agree to a Vegas bachelor party before his wedding; one last hurrah.
Last Vegas is reminiscent of The Hangover, for seniors. There are scenes which are pure hilarity and some that are completely off the wall. For example, LMFAO cameo in a bikini judging contest. However, while the movie highlights the strains and fears of aging, there are a lot of products and entertainers that will automatically date the film, which may prevent the movie from being a timeless piece. The shots that include LMFAO, Cirque du Soleil, various champagne and liquor brands may speak to audiences now, but this may quickly lose its appeal and meaning with time. While inconspicuously advertising for these products, this cheapens the deeper meaning of the movie — enjoy whatever time you may have and be happy.
All in all I enjoyed the movie. It made me care about the characters whose experiences are so different from my own and I would recommend it for a laugh since it does have some truly humorous moments while conveying a much deeper message.
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