Just Getting Started (2017)

A two-hander action comedy in the vein of Midnight Run (1988), about an ex-F.B.I. Agent (Tommy Lee Jones) and an ex-mob lawyer in the Witness Protection Program (Morgan Freeman) having to put aside their petty rivalry on the golf course to fend off a mob hit.

Director:

Ron Shelton

Writer:

Ron Shelton

Stars:

Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, Rene Russo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Morgan Freeman	...	Duke
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Leo
Rene Russo	...	Suzie
Joe Pantoliano	...	Joe
Glenne Headly	...	Marguerite
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Roberta
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Lily
George Wallace	...	Larry
Graham Beckel	...	Burt
Mel Raido	...	Oscar
Jane Seymour	...	Delilah
Johnny Mathis	...	Johnny Mathis
Nick Peine	...	Jimmy
Kristen DeVore Rakes	...	Ginger (as Kristen Rakes)
Eli Goodman	...	Corporate Santa

Storyline

Defense lawyer Duke, who once defended the heads of the world's most dangerous criminal teams, now manages the luxury resort Villa Capri in Palm Springs, California. Leo, a former FBI agent, arrives at the resort and repeatedly beats Duke at every competition. As manager of the resort, Duke is initially threatened by the newcomer's activities with the ladies and competitive nature. Their competition even extends to a rivalry over Suzie, the regional director of the resort chain. During the competitions Duke's life is put in danger multiple times and he realizes that the mafia has found him and is attempting to kill him. Duke and Leo must work together to defeat the mafia and save Duke's life during the Christmas season at Villa Capri..

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | new jersey | snow | written by director | palm springs california | 

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Taglines:

Three Legends. A Comedy for the Ages.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, suggestive material and brief violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Villa Capri

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,201,459, 10 December 2017, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$6,069,605, 25 January 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Broad Green Pictures,Endurance Media,Entertainment One

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones and George Wallace have all appeared in the Batman film franchise. Freeman appeared as Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012). Jones starred as Two-Face/Harvey Dent in Batman Forever (1995), which also featured Wallace in a cameo role as Gotham's Mayor. Incidentally, Rene Russo was originally cast as Dr. Chase Meridian in 1995's Batman Forever until Val Kilmer replaced Michael Keaton as Batman, leading to Russo being re-cast with Nicole Kidman replacing her.

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Goofs

Duke appears in a commercial on national television, something no one in the Witness Relocation Program would ever do.

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Quotes

Leo: You wanna do something about that I'll beat you best of 5 of anything ever invented.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Bright (2017)

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Soundtracks

Give Them Rhythm
Written & Performed by Emile Borde
Courtesy of Megatrax Music

User Reviews

Freeman and Jones are entertaining to watch, but that's only because they're such good actors.

'JUST GETTING STARTED': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)



An action-comedy buddy flick from writer/director Ron Shelton, who's previously helmed such popular sports-comedies as 'BULL DURHAM','WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP' & 'TIN CUP' (as well as the action-comedy buddy flick 'HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE'). The film stars Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones as an ex-mob lawyer, and an ex-FBI agent, that have to overcome their personal feud in order to survive a mafia hit at their retirement home. The movie also costars Rene Russo, Joe Pantoliano, George Wallace, Jane Seymour and the late Glenne Headly (in one of her final film performances). It's received mostly negative reviews from critics, and it's also underperformed at the Box Office so far as well. I found it to be very mildly amusing, at times, but it's also mostly just a waste of time.

Duke Diver (Freeman) is the most popular resident at villa Capri, a retirement home which he also helps run. That is until a new guest, named Leo (Jones), shows up. Leo rivals Duke at everything he's known for there, and the two engage in a bitter rivalry (even over women). That is until a mob hitman attempts to kill Diver, and the two must then put aside their dispute in order to survive.

I'll admit Freeman and Jones are both entertaining to watch, but that's only because they're such good actors. The duo is so much better than the material they're given here, and Ron Shelton has delivered much better material than this in the past. Maybe it's because they're all getting so old, but I know that Jones and Freeman can still do much better than this. They just need to learn to skip bad film roles.