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.
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..
As I've just recently been to a film festival where I watched a bunch of films knowing very little (if anything) in advance about the motion picture I was about to see and yet enjoyed every single one of them, I made a grave error thinking it could be like that with Hollywood productions. Well. Actually no. I was not thinking at all. My bad. Guess I was already in the zone for a brainless entertainment. Perfect for a demented zombie suffering from Alzheimers' disease. And I do not mean to belittle pensioners and seniors, but it seemed like this nursing home flick was intended for the nappy wearing 9 month olds than their 90 year old counterparts.
Truth to be told, I am a little too harsh on it, but only because the film was too damn basic and one dimensional. From the headlining Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones I was expecting something in the vein of 'Bucket List' perhaps. Frankly I didn't even know it was a Christmas film, which made it even worse. And though I guess my own ignorance is to blame for that one, it's still unforgivable to waste their talent on a film such as this. Christmas or not.
Perhaps the film will still be enjoyed by a few people, but in a week it will be forgotten and in years to come no TV channel will ever broadcast it over another 'Die Hard' or 'Wonderful Life' and the only place you could find it would perhaps be the old folks homes for rich people. Yet I bet they still have more interesting stuff to do than to watch this one. It might be more entertaining to be shown in a retirement home for poorer people, at least they could entertain themselves by bitching about the luxury lifestyle that they're missing.
Avoid this one like death.
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As I've just recently been to a film festival where I watched a bunch of films knowing very little (if anything) in advance about the motion picture I was about to see and yet enjoyed every single one of them, I made a grave error thinking it could be like that with Hollywood productions. Well. Actually no. I was not thinking at all. My bad. Guess I was already in the zone for a brainless entertainment. Perfect for a demented zombie suffering from Alzheimers' disease. And I do not mean to belittle pensioners and seniors, but it seemed like this nursing home flick was intended for the nappy wearing 9 month olds than their 90 year old counterparts.
Truth to be told, I am a little too harsh on it, but only because the film was too damn basic and one dimensional. From the headlining Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones I was expecting something in the vein of 'Bucket List' perhaps. Frankly I didn't even know it was a Christmas film, which made it even worse. And though I guess my own ignorance is to blame for that one, it's still unforgivable to waste their talent on a film such as this. Christmas or not.
Perhaps the film will still be enjoyed by a few people, but in a week it will be forgotten and in years to come no TV channel will ever broadcast it over another 'Die Hard' or 'Wonderful Life' and the only place you could find it would perhaps be the old folks homes for rich people. Yet I bet they still have more interesting stuff to do than to watch this one. It might be more entertaining to be shown in a retirement home for poorer people, at least they could entertain themselves by bitching about the luxury lifestyle that they're missing.
Avoid this one like death.