Out to Sea (1997): Dir: Martha Coolidge / Cast: Jack Lemmon, Walter Mathau, Brent Spiner, Dyan Cannon, Brent Spiner: Very funny comedy with two elderly males attempting to relive their glory days. The title regards the clueless high hopes by the leads. Walter Matthau plays a gambler who talks his widowed pal into going on an all expense paid cruise but he didn't mention the catch, which is that he signed them both up as dance hosts. The entertainment organizer, who opens his own act, takes an immediate dislike to our grumpy old men. The rest involves their encounter with two other women. Jack Lennon still loves his deceased wife so he struggles in accepting new love. Matthau gets caught up on the dance floor for which his inability to dance is put hilariously to the test. Familiar plot travels a predictable formula but director Martha Coolidge shows examples of comic timing. She previously made such entertaining comedies as Valley Girl and Real Genius. Matthau and Lemmon have irresistible comic chemistry. Brent Spiner plays the entertainment organizer in a standard role yet a terrific foil. Dyan Cannon plays Matthau's love interest but the role is too straight forward. Brent Spiner plays the foiled master of ceremonies who views our duo as a major inconvenience. Theme regards aged friendship. That keeps the script from drifting out to sea. Score: 7 ½ / 10
Review of Out to Sea
