ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

zardoz-13 Director Jeff Kanew's crime comedy "Tough Guys" gave Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas the big-send-off. This constituted their final film together as co-stars. Previously, these two Hollywood titans had appeared in "I Walk Alone" (1948), "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), "The Devil's Disciple" (1959), "The List of Adrian Messenger" (1963), "Seven Days in May" (1964), and the made-for-television thriller "Victory at Entebbe" (1976). Comparatively, "Tough Guys" surpasses "The List of Adrian Messenger" and "Victory at Entebbe." Lancaster and Douglas were cast as two old-time convicts who spent 30 years in prison for robbing a train and ultimately received parole. Life has changed substantially for 72 year old Harry Doyle and 67 year old Archie Long. They have been cell mates for three decades, and they weren't exactly ecstatic about that. Now that they are on the outside, they find it increasingly difficult to fit into society. Harry is sent to a retirement home in a large building where a physically fit man bullies the oldsters with a smile. Harry spearheads an uprising to obtain better food for the residents. Meanwhile, physically fit Archie hits Los Angeles running and survives things until he cannot take it anymore. He moves in with a gym manager, but her sexual demands and the clownish outfits that he must wear turn him off. At the same time that our heroes are struggling to blend into society, the cop who arrested them, Deke Yablonski (Charles Durning of "Sharky's Machine"), suspects that 30 years behind bars hasn't rehabilitated them. Sadly, Yablonski is right. The old guys turn back to a life of crime, and they hijack the same train that they robbed back in the old days. Lancaster and Douglas still have some charisma, especially Douglas who moons Yablonski from the top of a moving train during the finale. Happily, Jeff Kanew doesn't wear out his welcome, and reportedly the movie made enough to break even and get the two faded stars about a million each in their pockets. The scene in the old folks home when Harry leads the protest against the inadequate food is reminiscent of "White Heat." Eli Wallach has supporting role as a bespectacled hit-man who has waited 30 years to carry out a contract on our protagonists. Of course, if you're as big a fan of Lancaster and Douglas as I am, you will have to see it. . One of the reoccurring gags appears to have been appropriated from William Goldman's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" screenplay about rules in a fight. Mind you, "Tough Guys" isn't great, but it was fine to see these two kicking butt and taking names.

Vivekmaru45 I have been a longtime favorite of these actors. My favorite Kirk Douglas films: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Lust For Life(1956) and Spartacus(1960), Burt Lancaster: On Wings of Eagles (1986) and Eli Wallach: The Good The Bad And The Ugly (1966).Watch these films if you haven't yet. Back to this film the film concerns two crooks Harry Doyle (Lancaster) and Archie Long (Douglas), have botched a hijack on Southern Pacific train called The Gold Coast Flyer, ready to collect Social Security. They get thirty years imprisonment. Upon their release, they find the world has changed from 1956 to 1986—clothing, sexual lifestyles (their favorite bar is now a gay club for men), lack of respect from the younger generation, and the advance of technology.To put matters worse, Leon B. Little (Eli Wallach), an elderly hit man with bad eyesight who still has an outstanding contract on them, immediately tries kill them on many occasions without any success. It is good to mention here that Eli Wallach's character is the comic relief of the film. Comedy has always been his forte.Harry is too old for work - he is put in a retirement home where he reconnects with an old flame named Belle (Alexis Smith), and reminisces about old times. Archie, still allowed to work at age 67, takes a job at an ice cream parlor and later a restaurant. They are told not to have further contact with each other for at least three years. Archie then embraces the contemporary scene, listening to new wave music, asking out a much younger woman, Skye (Darlanne Fluegel), and dressing in faddish clothes. Though both their relationships go well, neither Archie nor Harry seems to fit in society anymore.Tired of trying to adjust, Harry and Archie go back to their old ways. What happens next to for you to see and find out. More comedy films you may like: Ruthless People (1986), Soul Man (1986), Planes Trains & Automobiles (1987).

VanillaLimeCoke It is very rare that the movie's first line will sum the entire movie up, but Kenny Rogers song of "They Don't Make 'em like they used to" sums this one up.They really don't make movies like this anymore, although this was nearly 30 years ago to this date. I was fortunate to go to London and get this on DVD where it was available there back in 2007, around the same time I had discovered about region free DVD players and secret codes on Region 1 DVD players.I was told this film really wasn't the best, and well it really isn't Oscar worthy but they really don't seem to make films like this anymore. This film was made in 1986 but had more of an older feeling to it something you might see on PBS, but it still is very entertaining funny.The plot has Harry Doyle (Burt Lancaster) and Archie Long (Kirk Douglas) as two old guys finishing a 30 year prison sentence for robbing a train, and now have to face a new world. They have a very friendly but firm parole officer named Richie (played by Dana Carvey which I believe might be his very first major role), but like I said has to be firm because his boss Yablonski (played by Charles Durning) who originally busted the two is on his tail. And to make it more humorous his boss is on him telling him to take it easy and focus on his easy job of computer records. Plus there's this hero like guy who resents the two paroled Leon B. Little (Eli Wallach) who's trying to kill them.Of course being on parole is really like being on a leash, Archie Long is given a job whilst luckily Harry gets retirement checks but has to live in a very boring rest home. The two basically envy each other for that, the other wanting a job and the other wanting to sit back and relax. That's another common thing, even though these two are best friends they argue a lot with each other.Getting out into the real world that's now 30 years older than they remembered isn't easy, but they seem to be good at it, although not as good as they used to be or want to be. Harry has to deal with living a boring rest home with very sloppy boring food and following a very strict schedule.Archie's first job does not go well in an ice cream store, where this one kid tries to pull every 'the customer is right' antic in the book on him. Archie ends up throwing ice cream in his face. The second job does not go any better as on the second day 3 customers and his boss jump on him with demands at once; this leads to Archie giving them the demands in a peculiar fashion, but what really is funny is how the 3rd customer is laughing his head off until Archie approaches him, the customer a bit more sedated has a look of, 'I'm dead now, but it was worth it'Going to a clothing store is at a loss for Archie when he's told their colors are peach, avocado, mocha, cherry, and etc, which Archie replies, "I don't want to eat the suit, I just want to wear it."Those are just a few funny scenes in this 1 hour 45 minute film. This is definitely a rare gem.The only thing I found annoying was the character Leon B. Little. He was annoying IMO, and basically seemed to curse every chance he got. While he was funny at times, he just seemed too uppity for his own good. But overall definitely a solid gem that I would strongly recommend seeing if you enjoy comedy flicks.

Hesought Kirk Douglas. Burt Lancaster. 'Nuff said! As two train robbers, released from prison after a 30 year stretch, this dynamic duo try to adjust to life in the '80's and all the changes that have taken place. Douglas looks great for a man in his 60's and eventually attracts the eye of a young aerobics instructor. Their scenes together are both funny and sincere, as the differences between them eventually dictate the direction of their relationship. Kirk is also forced to work in menial jobs that involve him dealing with rude customers and a boss who doesn't like ex-cons. These scenes provide the film's best humor. Lancaster's role however is far less interested, as he is relegated to an old-folks home, wherein he becomes somewhat of a revolutionary. Realizing that they just don't fit in with society anymore, the two return to train robbing and the film moves downhill from this point. Eli Wallach contributes some funny scenes as a near-sighted hit-man who has waited 30 years to fulfill a contract to kill the duo. Despite the thin script, this is a very enjoyable film that may best be viewed with a senior citizen family member who can both identify with the characters and who remembers Lancaster and Douglas when they were A-List actors. I recommend it.