They don’t make them like that anymore. I mean grand old actors like Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin who do the grandpa act with a twinkle in the eye.

When octogenarians and lifelong pals Joe, Willie and Al get diddled out of their pension, the golden oldies don’t sit around moping. In fact there’s no dramatic heaviness hanging around anywhere. True,Joe’s on the verge of losing his house where he takes care of his divorced daughter and granddaughter, and Willie would like to see his granddaughter more often but what the heck, let’s just get what’s due to us. In the spirit of everybody must get a piece of the pie, they decide, let’s rob our bank, what’ve we got to lose anyway?

Director Zach Braff’s updated version of the 1979 caper is silly but with an endearing lightness. Don’t take it seriously for they themselves don’t.

The trio plans, plots and pulls off a clumsy heist right down to Freeman stopping to chat with a little girl who reminds him of his granddaughter instead of scooting before the cops arrive.

But they get away with it, well, almost. And there’s a sweet little twist that brings a sigh of relief, so stop sweating grandpa. When the three rob to buy themselves a bit of comfort and cheer, they put a smile on those around them too.

This is the old breezy cinema of yore with no special effects, just cosy, ageless relationships with a special affinity for granddaughters.

But it’s also the kind of film that’s ideal for when you’ve nothing better to do. You watch it, you smile, you forget. Like Freeman’s earlier outing Last Vegas with Robert DeNiro.

For a feel-good, inoffensive film that doesn’t tax your brain,Going In Style gets a 2.5* rating.

Reviewed by
Bharathi S Pradhan