Movie review: Al Pacino and Christopher Walken are "Stand Up Guys" (2013)

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There is good and bad concerning the geriatric comedy-drama “Stand Up Guys” (2013) directed by former actor Fisher Stevens. The major positive is watching ageless acting powerhouses Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin working together. The negative is a rather weak script by Noah Haidle that too often falls into lame old folks humor. For instance, Pacino’s character Val cannot get it up for a prostitute (Kathryn Winnick, star of TV’s “Vikings”). So what is the solution? Break into a pharmacy so Val can gobble down half a bottle of Viagara. He gets the desired results and she gets worn out by the old man hah hah. That is not the end of it. Val’s erection will not evaporate sending him to the hospital. See Pacino on his back literally with a tent in his pants and moaning at the sight of the doctor wielding a huge needle. Groan. “Stand Up Guys” suffers from long stretches of being akin to a talky two character play between Val and Walken’s Doc. Val has been released from serving 28 years in prison (thus the need for a prostitute visit) and picked up by old friend Doc. These guys are former career criminals who reminisce over past exploits. Val in typically gravelly voiced Pacino style expresses disdain for Doc’s small cluttered apartment. Doc sheepishly responds he is retired and lives quietly painting and watching cable television. If Doc is retired, why has he got a handgun and looking at Val funny? The film’s lynch pin is Doc must kill Val or be killed himself. Nothing personal. He is under pressure from gangster Claphands (Mark Margolis from “Breaking Bad”) who blames Val for killing his son. The situation is difficult for Doc but what is he to do? Even an old Pacino is a bundle of energy wanting to party. Doc wants Val to have a good time before killing him so they embark on all night hijinx. Pacino’s performance is routine typical for him while Walken is more interesting as he displays none of his oft imitated quirks by underplaying to the flamboyant Pacino. He plays Doc as a tired old man shuffling along with stooped shoulders. Along the way they steal a car and pick up former wheelman Hirsch (Arkin) from his convalescent home. Hirsch’s daughter (Juliana Margulies) just happens to be Val’s nurse at the hospital. Arkin does not get to do much in limited screen time. The film does eventually travel in sentimentality and concluded in predictable manner. “Stand Up Guys” does not possess anything challenging for its audiences or stars but it is always worth seeing Pacino and Walken.