Out to Sea

1997  PG-13  COMEDY  1h 49min

CAST— Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Dyan Cannon, Brent Spiner, Gloria De Haven, Elaine Stritch, Hal Linden, Donald O’Connor, Edward Mulhare, Rue McClanahan, Alexandra Powers, Sean O’Brien, Estelle Harris

MUSIC— Michael Muhlfriedel, David Newman  DIRECTOR— Martha Coolidge

     Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau reunite for a fairly mirthless pleasure cruise. Matthau is in deep with the sharks. So he persuades brother-in-law Lemmon to take a vacation with him (said vacay an attempt to evade the bookies). Unbeknownst to Lemmon Matthau has signed them both up to be a cruise ship’s dance hosts, you know, the guys hired by the cruise line to entertain lonely singles and aging seniors. Under the rule of an egomaniacal entertainment director (Brent Spiner) the boys eventually break the rules by taking personal interest in two lovelies. Lemmon’s choice is a sweet widow with whom he shares commonalities; Matthau hits on a shapely oil heiress, a constant flirt. Will romance rear its ugly head for these two dancing dandies, or will circumstance dictate their course? What could have been a delightful throwback to earlier comedies featuring this funny duo is instead a film that barely treads water, pretty much a non event. Lacking in fun and laughs the film tries to stay afloat but those in the audience may end up bailing out.

OUR RATING— **