Review of Out to Sea (1997) by Sara L — 03 Nov 2009

One of the greatest comedic duos to ever exist in one of the greatest comedies ever made... and no one seems to quite understand why this film is classic humor gold. This is a film that can be watched... and watched again... and again... and still laugh at it. Why? Because the antics of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon are timeless and every time you see this movie--you will catch something new, laugh at the same old thing yet again and just as hard... or you will come away wondering why you hadn't watched this movie before hand.

I personally love this movie and place it in my top ten favorite films. I can easily quote the entirety of the first twelve to fifteen minutes... I can remember all the great lines... I can picture the entire thing in my head and watch it without my eyes on the TV screen, still laughing like crazy.

Premise of the movie is simple: two retired men, Charlie and Herbie, aren't happy with their lives. Charlie is after every get rich quick scheme he can come up with... without ever having to put out work; while Herbie is widowed and having anniversary dinner with a photograph... which Charlie shows up with an anniversary gift: cruise tickets. They are going to go dancing and cavorting with "lonely, rich broads" and get married with money. Charlie's latest in a series of gold digging schemes. Charlie (played by Matthau) is flawless as he flows into his line, delivering comedy that you'll miss if you aren't paying attention. Herbie (played by Lemmon respectably) is logical and still loves his dead wife, but seems to always get dragged into things by Charlie.

They get on the cruise and after a few bumbles... make it to their room... which is below decks. Knowing that something is up, Herbie confronts Charlie... who admits that he got the tickets for free because he "signed them up as dance hosts." They have to work... but Charlie sees it as women easy to access.

Filled with hilarious music numbers sung by a cruise director that should have been in the Marines, old women who make you laugh as they hit on hot men... Herbie's many one liners, the unforgettable scene of teaching Charlie how to dance... you'll want to party throughout the entire movie and that is exactly what this movie is. It strongly captures a cruise experience (especially if you know how to cruise) and it will make you want to jump on the next boat leaving from the harbor.

There is also a touching romantic theme throughout this movie... and it touches on many romantic themes: are you ever too old for love? do you ever fall out of love with someone? is it ok to love another person if the one you truly loved is dead? is that betrayal? These themes are there but you will never feel that they slap the comedy in the face... rather you have to look closely at them, because that is how well this movie is put together. At times it may see rushed or "unrealistic" when it is actually treated more along the lines of actuality. How often to people react unreasonably to situations? How often to people take the slightest misunderstanding and create something big out of it?

There is never a dull moment as you watch Walter Matthau's insanity and Lemmon's conditioned responses to dealing with him. These two have appeared in enough movies with one another that they know how to roll comedy out of thin air and they deliver a great movie. You won't be bored, but you have to remember... this is not an Academy Award movie... this is what movies used to be: entertainment.

These two men are entertainers... of the highest quality. From movies like The Odd Couple and Grumpy Old Men... Matthau and Lemmon had been working together for ages, and even though both had long passed away, their presence on screen will never fade. You will laugh, that is fact... and I feel that if you sit down with the idea that you want to enjoy life, to laugh, to just experience a party... this will easily become a favorite to you as well. This is a perfect movie to watch at any time: date, Sunday family night, rainy day, sad day... you will never feel that it is out of place (unless you want a horror movie... though some critics will have you believe that it is a horror for this film to have been made).

An icon among Hollywood... Matthau and Lemmon made movies for years and the reason they were paired together is because it worked. This is but another of their great works and for any fan of Grumpy Old Men... you will find another gem of comedy. I hope you enjoy... and I hope that this somewhat balances the negative vibe this film has gotten.