Like a calmer "Hangover" for senior citizens, LAST VEGAS throws four lifelong friends in Las Vegas for a weekend of lessons as predictable as any TV sitcom, but lifted by the star power of its cast to a (slightly) higher level.
Michael Douglas (Billy) the rich playboy of the bunch, proposes to his much younger girlfriend in the middle of a buddy's funeral. In an early sign of trouble, this scene is supposed to be funny but is just plain awkward.
Soon, Billy's three best friends from childhood are on their way to Vegas for a weekend bachelor party before the Sunday wedding.
Morgan Freeman is charming and funny as Archie. He's suffered a minor stroke and is now babied by his son and left feeling helpless.
Kevin Kline (Sam) is suffocating in Florida and feeling put out to pasture. He jumps at the chance to head to Vegas. The fact that his wife gives him a weekend pass to have meaningless sex with a stranger is again supposed to be hilarious, but plays more uncomfortable than humorous. This "funny" plot point is then beat to death for 90 minutes.
Our last of the friends, Paddy (Robert DeNiro) is still mourning the death of his wife and living like a recluse in Brooklyn, rarely leaving the house. He is furious with Billy for missing his wife's funeral and this argument becomes the central conflict through the weekend.
The boys soon find themselves in Vegas, surrounded by bikinis, drinks and a charming lounge singer close to their age, charmingly played by Mary Steenburgen.
What happens in Vegas...is very predictable. It's sometimes worth a chuckle, often worth a mild grin and never surprising.
Its a high caliber cast of actors and Freeman and Kline are especially likeable. DeNiro is here for a paycheck, but even phone-it-in DeNiro is better than most.
I'm not sure watching a bunch of seniors trying to get lucky is really entertainment, but someone in Hollywood apparently thought it was gold.
Last Vegas never hits the jackpot and gets a C.
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