Last Vegas is definite proof of the death of comedy. Of course, this expression is not as literal as it sounds. Audiences of all demographics will, of course, always be treated to comedies that make them laugh and may even touch them. However, if this is what needs to happen for the older demographic to laugh then the world is all kinds of wrong. As far as old people jokes go---this film contains a count of over a hundred. The cast proves to be talented no matter how bad the script is but the sheer puerile nature of the film also proves the low point of everyone in this film's career.
The film follows Billy (Michael Douglas)....a man who's planning to get married to a woman half his age. He calls up his buddies, Archie and Sam (Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline) but, of course, leaves out Paddy (Robert De Niro) of whom he has a longstanding grudge with. However, all four manage to pack up and head to Las Vegas where they become the life of every party. They meet a lounge singer named Diana (Mary Steenburgen, the only genuinely good thing in the entire film but I'll get to that in a second) and prove that old guys still have it in them to have a great time.
The main problem I had with the film is that everyone barring Diana is totally and completely dehumanized. All four of the guys are portrayed as geriatric party boys living in a world of completely fantasy. The hotel worker (Romany Malco) assigned to wait on them hand and foot is just there to serve them. There's even a subplot involving a youngster (Jerry Ferrara) who attempts to fight the old men and has to make it up to them by ALSO waiting on them hand and foot. Diana is the only character who's not just there for the purpose of hokey laughs. She is a person who has feelings and shows emotions and has some kind of personality. Everyone else is just there to make sure that the old people fell young again and laugh in the process.
Now---you may be thinking "I'm old...I would like it." Let me stop you right there. By old---I mean anyone 100 and over. I am a young guy but I could tell that even if you are 85 or so....you will not laugh at this film. In fact...anyone 60-99 might just be incredibly offended at the ideas it offers. All this would be forgivable, however, if it were funny. There is not one genuine laugh in the entire picture. An attempt at a huge laugh involving rapper Curtis Jackson AKA 50 Cent stood out as falling particularly flat as does a wet bikini contest scene. However, there are many more scenes that are 100X more painful than those scenes.
Like I said-----the cast tries to overcome the egregious material but Last Vegas just falls flat at every turn. It is not funny, it is not charming and after all the wackiness and dehumanizing ensues---it tries to turn schmaltzy at the end. Needless to say---this screwball comedy commits more than just a few sins.
(1 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for sexual content and language)
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