Just Getting Started

I had high hopes for this movie, they didn't last very long. It's almost interesting when it starts out but it takes a long time to get anywhere. I have a lot of respect for most these actors but I fear some of them are way past their prime. When Tommy Lee Jones walks he looks like he's in terrible pain, I get it, I have joint pain from arthritis to but it's distracting to see on the screen.

The writing is very unrealistic, the characters are so fake. What is Renee Russo doing in this movie? She's too young to be hanging out with these old farts. It's sad with all the talent hired on to do this film they didn't have better material to work with. The writing is just plain bad. Obviously most of these actors just did this for a paycheck, they put their time and went home. There is nothing special about this movie. To be honest, I wouldn't even watch it on broadcast TV it was so disappointing.

'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.

Crazy how old so much of the cast is older then I know of them. I appreciate cheesy films once in awhile they are a perfect guilty pleasure to me! Such an odd story about greedy people and silly relationships; not much to it. I loved Glenne Headly unfortunate she passed away not long after this. I respect Ron Shelton's work as writer/director too.

Was this a great film, no, but it was totally enjoyable to watch as I knew it had to be considering the cast. Not just Jones & Freeman, but Jane Seymour, George Wallace, Joe Pantoliano, & Glenne Headly in her final film. Sure it's a play on a plot that's been done before with a few twists, but with different players always different. If you want an hour & half of entertainment and aren't predisposed to think old folks are has beens, check it out.

I was VERY SURPRISED when I saw the the low reviews and EXTREMELY negative things that was said about this movie. It isn't a Oscar winning time by no means, but it DOES NOT deserve the bad things that have been written here. The cast is really great and it's a fun and an enjoyable hour and a half. Like I said, it's no "barn burner" as far as innovation of movie plots, but it's funny at times and cute to see these actors can be silly and have a fun time. So to the others that are so mean and negative about it, LIGHTEN UP! It's a movie!