classicsoncall
Modern day viewers probably won't catch much of a buzz watching this film today. I was a fan of the principals during their heyday and George Burns is one of my all time favorites for his understated style and whimsical humor. He was the perfect foil for Gracie Allen's zany temperament.However I had a bit of a problem with this picture because of Walter Matthau's characterization of Willy Clark. It just seemed too heavy handed for me since Willy and Al Lewis (George Burns) worked together for forty three years, and you'd expect that they would have developed a more amiable rivalry in their relationship. Say along the lines of Matthau and Jack Lemmon in "The Odd Couple". I was expecting at some point a genuine show of affection between Willy and Al but it just didn't materialize until the heart attack, and even then it seemed pretty one sided with Burns' character.Through it all, there was some good material buried under the dialog that would have seemed more clever with an upbeat delivery. I never thought about individual letters of the alphabet being funny or not. In it's way, the business about the letter 'K' was rather inspired, and the apparent random shuffling of the chairs in Willy's apartment looked like the ex-vaudevillians were improvising; I wouldn't be surprised if they were. If only the film makers had lightened things up a bit, I'd offer an extra dollar on the toll bridge to watch it again.
FilmCriticLalitRao
'The Sunshine Boys' is about the imminent reunion of two vaudeville era comedians. However, it is not so easy to organize a successful creative collaboration between two volatile actors who have not spoken in two decades. This is not a film for viewers who don't appreciate slow films. It is neither a slow film per se nor does it feature a quick succession of events. This Herbert Ross film starts in a slow manner but gathers pace as the story progresses. If one says that the life of an old person is difficult, one can only imagine how difficult would the lives of two creative old men be. There is a lot for audiences as a lot of questions are raised about actors especially their lives and acting methods. It is said that old people are left to fend for themselves. However, one has to appreciate the dedication with which a young nephew takes care of his old uncle. Lastly, a viewer would remember this film as an excellent creative endeavor aimed at depicting true feelings of actors who are past their prime.
JLRMovieReviews
Walter Matthau and George Burns were a famous vaudeville comedy act, Lewis and Clark, who haven't spoken in over 10 years. Burns retired and Matthau took it personally and has held a grudge ever since. Such is the premise of this hilarious Neil Simon play made into a movie. Of course, what makes it so good is Matthau and Burns in their prime, and the material is funnier than anything you can find today. Richard Benjamin shines as Matthau's nephew and agent. There's even old clips of actual stars of the golden era to get you into the groove of the film, and character actor Fritz Feld starts it all off with a "pop." Rosetta LaNoire, who started out in the 30s in theater with Orson Welles and later was Grandma on "Family Matters," is great in a small role.The only problem I had with it (and maybe I'm being too picky and/or serious) is the way Matthau treats Burns when they first meet. Granted, he's had a lot of resentment festering in all these years, but some of the things he does would be considered rude or just plain bad manners taken out of context. Also, I'm used to seeing Matthau act that way in other movies, but not to George Burns. And, Matthau's bellowing tends to get a little old. All in all, if you need a consistently funny film to help and forget your troubles, put in "The Sunshine Boys." They'll lift your spirits and make you think of a simpler time and way of life.Benjamin: "You have to slide it." Matthau: "Wait, wait. I think you have to slide it."
Neil Doyle
I forgot to mention--two "cranky" ex-vaudevillians to be exact.It's the cranky humorous jibes between WALTER MATTHAU and GEORGE BURNS (in his Oscar-winning role at 79), that makes the film. The supporting cast does what they can to keep things flowing at a smooth pace, but it's really almost a two-character story with Matthau and Burns both on their toes delivering some ripe lines.RICHARD BENJAMIN makes little impression as the nephew who comes up with the idea for a TV reunion. Matthau is the least accustomed to retirement, grudgingly stating that Burns retired "in the middle of my career." He has no use for the sort of contented retiremenet in the New Jersey suburbs that Burns has assumed, sitting around and waiting for his grandchildren to come home from school, etc.When it's all over, and you're pretty exhausted from laughing at the jokes, you might realize there's nothing really substantial about the plot. It's sort of like The Odd Couple facing their old age. Only occasionally does it stop and reflect with a tinge of sadness about the ramifications of age--but then it moves on to the next gag.Summing up: Good Neil Simon comedy knows how to brighten up the screen for awhile.
AD
