Grumpy Old Men (1993)

A lifelong feud between two neighbors since childhood only gets worse when a new female neighbor moves across the street.

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writer:

Mark Steven Johnson

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	John Gustafson
Walter Matthau	...	Max Goldman
Ann-Margret	...	Ariel Truax
Burgess Meredith	...	Grandpa Gustafson
Daryl Hannah	...	Melanie
Kevin Pollak	...	Jacob Goldman
Ossie Davis	...	Chuck
Buck Henry	...	Snyder
Christopher McDonald	...	Mike
Steve Cochran	...	Weatherman
Joe Howard	...	Pharmacist
Isabell O'Connor	...	Nurse (as Isabell Monk)
Buffy Sedlachek	...	Punky (as Buffy Sedlacheck)
John Carroll Lynch	...	Moving Man
Charles Brin	...	Fisherman

Storyline

John and Max are elderly men living next door to each other. They're continuously arguing and insulting each other, and have been this way for over 50 years. One day, Ariel, moves into the street. Both men are attracted to her, and their rivalry steps up a gear.

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor | fishing | frozen lake | fish | fisherman | 

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Taglines:

A fifty-year fight.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grumpy Old Men

Filming Locations:

Half Time Rec, 1013 Front Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$70,172,621

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Davis, Lancaster Gate, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Max says, "It's like one of them 'Fatal Attraction' things that they show on the 'Donahue' show," referring to both Fatal Attraction (1987) and Donahue (1967).

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Goofs

At the wedding, most of the snow has melted. In the next scene, presumably that night, the snow at Max and John's houses is back to what is was before.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Snyder: Mr. Gustafson! I have to talk to you! Mr. Gustafson, will you answer the door, please? I know you're in there! It's no use pretending this isn't happening, Mr. Gustafson! I can't keep coming... back here every couple of days! You have to talk to me! Mr. Gustafson, I'm just trying to help you! Come on and open the door! I'll just keep knocking! I'll come back, so you might as well answer the door! I know you're in there! Think of the neighbors, Mr. Gustafson! There's a letter for ...

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Crazy Credits

After the wedding, the limo window opens, and a hand, presumably Jack Lemmon's, drops a dead fish onto the pavement. Walter Matthau is standing on the sidewalk, enjoying the moment. Jack Lemmon comes up quietly alongside, and asks him, "Who left?" Matthau does a double- take, and shakes his head, laughing.

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Connections

Referenced in Golic and Wingo: Episode #1.49 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Good Lovin'
Written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick
Performed by The Rascals
Courtesy of ATLANTIC RECORDS
By Arrangement with WARNER SPECIAL PRODUCTS

User Reviews

A very fun and sweet film

I don't know why, but I recently had Grumpy Old Men stuck in my head, I saw it when I was 8 years old with my grandparents, but I figured that I should watch it again before I would comment on it, since your opinion changes when you grow up. So, I rented both Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men and I was excited to see a decent rating on IMDb, and I love Walter Matthau, so this was a film to look forward too. Well, I finished it this morning and I have to say that it had it's good laughs along with a very heart warming story for the holidays.

John and Max are two former friends turned enemies and have been feuding for a long time, we don't really know why at the beginning of the film. When they see a new neighbor moving in on the street, a very attractive older woman named Ariel. Now the boys have something new to fight over and are competing for her love. But it almost drives them crazy how much they keep playing tricks on each other and can they realize that it's finally time to grow up and act their ages or will they stay as grumpy old men?

This was a very charming and lovely movie that could melt anyone's heart and make them laugh at the same time. I really do miss the comedies like this since a lot of films are more aimed for a younger generation, I may be 21, but I need the grown up comedies just as well as the one's for today, we need a balance, you know? But I would highly recommend Grumpy Old Men for a little laugh and a good film to watch for an afternoon.

7/10