Last Vegas – Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Release date – February 6th 2014.

All credit to the executive producer who was able to work out an affordable deal to shoot a film that has five Oscar winning actors working together for the first time in a comedy about three sixty-something friends who take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal.

Those friends are the grieving Paddy – Robert De Niro, the unwell Archie – Morgan Freeman, and the restlessly married Sam – Kevin Kline. Their pal Billy – Michael Douglas is a wealthy playboy who is finally tying the knot to a much younger woman.

Ironically this film for people over 50 is directed by John Turteltaub who gave us the National Treasure movies with Nicholas Cage.

And it’s written by Dan Fogelman who wrote kids movies Tangled and Cars. He also wrote Crazy Stupid Love.

It’s a well worn premise in the vein of The Hangover, this time revolving around old dudes who grew up together and have drifted apart. They’ve also bolted on a bit of a love story to keep a female audience interested between the jokes.

Enter the fifth Academy Award winner – Mary Steenburgen as Diana, a Vegas lounge singer who reignites a rivalry between Paddy & Billy.

While you could dismiss this as The Hangover for grand-dads or an old age pensioner buddy flick, the heavy hitter cast and a generous script makes this something more than just the routine formulaic Hollywood offering and it’s mostly enjoyable, entertaining and funny, with some solid gags.

Jerry Farrara – Turtle from Entourage – is perfectly cast as a Vegas brat and a 50 Cent cameo is a nice touch.

Lighthearted fun to switch off the brain to.

3 stars.