Forgotten Morgan Freeman Comedy Getting Hype After Landing on Netflix
When was the last time you saw five Oscar winning actors in a comedy with Viagra jokes?
Summary
- Last Vegas is about four retirees taking Vegas by storm
- They party hard and reveal uncomfortable truths during a bachelor party
- This comedy stars five Oscar winners
- It was released to middling reviews, but is being rediscovered on Netflix.
I’ve Never Heard of It – What’s It About?
Some movies fly under the radar when they’re first released, which in the age of Blockbuster used to mean that they disappeared into obscurity. Luckily for us, streaming services have a way of uncovering the movies that we might have missed the first time around.
Such is the case with Last Vegas, a buddy comedy that’s part Red and part The Hangover. Four childhood friends, now retired, reunite in Vegas for a bachelor party.
There’s Archie, a twice-divorced Vietnam veteran (played by Morgan Freeman).
There’s thoughtful Sam (Kevin Kline), who lives peaceably with his wife in Florida.
Paddy (Robert De Niro) has been growing increasingly bitter since the death of his wife.
And Billy (Michael Douglas) is a rich entrepreneur. Billy hits all the cliches when he becomes engaged to his gorgeous 31-year-old girlfriend.
Billy calls up his old friends to celebrate, and invites them all to a bachelor party in Vegas. Paddy has to be convinced – there is some bad blood with him and Billy – but eventually the quartet reunites in Vegas, where they party too hard, win a fortune gambling, judge a bikini contest, and generally get up to shenanigans. In the meantime, the bonds of their friendship are tested by memories of the past.
Five Oscars in One Room
There are not one, not two, but FIVE Academy Award-winning actors in this cast.
Kevin Kline may be the least famous of the bunch, mostly by choice: the actor is so picky with his roles that some have called him Kevin Decline. But that doesn’t take away from his outrageous comedy chops, which earned him an Oscar in 1989 for A Fish Called Wanda.
Morgan Freeman, 'the internet’s dad', is as well known for his soothing voice overs as his onscreen presence. He’s been nominated for five Academy Awards, finally winning for his role in Million Dollar Baby (2004).
Recently Robert De Niro has had a career resurgence playing intense / gruff / gross grandfather types, but he’s also famous for playing tough guys in classics like 1976’s Taxi Driver and 1990’s Goodfellas. He has two Oscar wins under his belt, for The Godfather Part II (1974) and Raging Bull (1980).
Even in his 70s, Michael Douglas is still playing suave, intelligent guys. He won his Academy Award for his work as the slick Gordon Gekko the 1988 satire Wall Street.
Mary Steenburgen might not be as famous as the other names on this list, but she’s definitely one of those 'you’ll recognize her if you see her' faces. Steenburgen has been in dozens of your favorite films, often flying over the radar with her wide-eyed sense of humor. She earned an Oscar for Melvin and Howard in 1980; it was only her third film role.
A Feel-Good Film
How did producers manage to get such an all-star cast in a buddy comedy? Probably by simply asking. It’s clear that all five actors are there to just let their hair down and have a good time, and it pays off for the audience that’s along for the ride.
If you’re looking for De Niro’s signature moodiness or Kline’s Shakespeare cred, this movie probably isn’t for you. But if you’re down to turn off your brain and enjoy some good old fashioned comfort viewing, Last Vegas might just hit the spot.