Grumpier Old Men (1995)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writers (WGA):

Mark Steven Johnson (characters)
Mark Steven Johnson (written by)

Release Date:

22 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Still Yelling. Still Fighting. Still Ready For Love.

Plot:

Things don't seem to change much in Wabasha County: Max and John are still fighting after 35 years, Grandpa still drinks...

Plot Keywords:

Fishing | Old Age | Reference To Benedict Arnold | Wedding | Sequel

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Walter Matthau	...	Max Goldman
Jack Lemmon	...	John Gustafson
Ann-Margret	...	Ariel Gustafson
Sophia Loren	...	Maria Sophia Coletta Ragetti
Burgess Meredith	...	Grandpa Gustafson
Daryl Hannah	...	Melanie Gustafson
Kevin Pollak	...	Jacob Goldman
Katie Sagona	...	Allie, Melanie's Daughter
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Mama Ragetti (as Ann Guilbert)
James Andelin	...	Sven
Marcus Klemp	...	Eddie, Assistant Manager
Max Wright	...	County Health Inspector
Cheryl Hawker	...	Lena
Wayne A. Evenson	...	Handsome Hans
Allison Levine	...	Assistant at Dog Pound

Also Known As:

Grumpy Old Men 2

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for salty language and innuendos.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34270) | Finland:S | South Korea:15 | Sweden:11 (TV rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Germany:6 (w) | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:T | UK:12 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Afton, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Lancaster Gate

Trivia:

The eighth pairing out of ten movies of comic actors and great friends Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the "Chicken Dance" scene, when the couple are fighting, the dancing doesn't match the music. The Chicken Dance has a specific set of actions for various points in the song - this was blatantly off.

Quotes:

Max: [Maria kisses Max after they fall to the ground] Mama mia!
Maria: Holy moly!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Remembers Walter Matthau (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Understand Your Man

Better than the first one.

While "Grumpy" was enjoyable, I think "Grumpier" is the better overall movie. More attention is given to the supporting characters, the plot is slightly more complex, the lines are better, the jokes are better, and Lemmon and Matthau once again give excellent performances. Granted, this still isn't as good as it could be, but I think it's a noticeable step up from the original. I really don't get all the negativity toward it... come on, people, it's just a silly comedy. Lighten up.

Speaking of negativity, another reviewer, whom I won't name here (oh all right, it's John Ulmer), seems to think this movie is nothing more than a "shouting match," and is concerned about the age difference between the Old Men and their lady friends. I disagree on both points. The dialogue doesn't have as much shouting this time around, and Matthau's girl is most certainly NOT "fortysomething." Believe it or not, she was 61 at the time, and I must say it's quite amazing how good she looks for a woman her age (Matthau was 75--a pretty big age difference, true, but I can't imagine there's a lot of men to choose from when you're single and in your 60s!). I hate to chastise another reviewer like this, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

So in conclusion... it's a good movie. Doesn't deserve its bad rap.

7/10 stars.