Plot
A lifelong feud between two neighbors since childhood, only gets worse when a new female neighbor moves across the street.
Release Year: 1993
Rating: 6.8/10 (18,652 voted)
Critic's Score: 53/100
Director:
Donald Petrie
Stars: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret
Storyline John and Max are elderly men living next door to each other. They're continuously arguing and insulting each other, and have been this way for over 50 years. One day, Ariel, moves into the street. Both men are attracted to her, and their rivalry steps up a gear.
Cast: Jack Lemmon
-
John Gustafson
Walter Matthau
-
Max Goldman
Ann-Margret
-
Ariel Truax
Burgess Meredith
-
Grandpa Gustafson
Daryl Hannah
-
Melanie
Kevin Pollak
-
Jacob Goldman
Ossie Davis
-
Chuck
Buck Henry
-
Snyder
Christopher McDonald
-
Mike
Steve Cochran
-
Weatherman
Joe Howard
-
Pharmacist
Isabell O'Connor
-
Nurse
(as Isabell Monk)
Buffy Sedlachek
-
Punky
John Carroll Lynch
-
Moving Man
Charles Brin
-
Fisherman
Taglines:
A fifty-year fight.
Release Date: 25 December 1993
Filming Locations: Center City, Minnesota, USA
Gross: $70,172,621
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The sixth pairing out of ten movies of comic actors and great friends Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
Goofs:
Continuity:
Ariel tells John to move King's Rook to Queen's Bishop three in his chess game. The piece he subsequently moves is in fact a bishop.
Quotes: Grandpa Gustafson:
Looks like Chuck's taking old one-eye to the optometrist.
User Review
One of the 10 funniest films of all time.
Rating: 10/10
I write this in 2001. Sadly, at this time, all three of the "Grumpy Old
Men" (Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Burgess Meredith) have now passed
on.
But this film will show that some of your best work can come in your
golden
years.
I first saw "Grumpy Old Men" against protest. Though I'd heard of its
legacy at being "SO funny!"-- I rebelled against the idea of seeing two
foul
old guys yelling at each other. One night, my parents rented it-- and I
happened to be staying at their house that night-- so I popped it in the
VCR
and watched it.
I went to bed in pain that night because my abdomen was sore from laughing
so hard. It took over 3 hours for me to watch the whole movie because I
kept rewinding and watching the funniest parts over and over again.
Though the movie stars all VERY-seasoned and excellent actors & actresses--
one tends to forget that... and only sees "John and Max" going at it again.
It's a fifty-year fight between these two mischievous old bags of hot-air.
The movie becomes more exciting as it progresses-- because you get to
wonder
who's going to strike next and humiliate the other... Gustafson or
Goldman?
Aside from a wonderful story line and script, there are some very memorable
one-liners and quotes from both this and "Grumpier Old Men" (the sequel).
The soundtrack is sprinkled with wonderful old songs, along with festive
polka songs to set the atmosphere for the town of Wabasha, Minnesota-- a
small Swedish-settlement in the North.
If you've not seen this movie, and you have a great sense of humor-- do
yourself the favor of renting "Grumpy Old Men". It's a heart-warming,
happy
film that leaves you feeling good after seeing it. God rest all the souls
of the stars of this film that are now no longer with us-- but enjoy one of
their last gifts to us before they left.
0