Going In Style, is the fresh new comedy directed by Zach Braff and starring the oscar winning trio, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin and Michael Caine.
The film, written by Theodore Melfi, is adapted from Martin Brest’s darker, 1979 film of the same title. It follows three former factory workers who just lost their pensions, and join forces to rob a bank.
Even with such an amazing cast, producers did not expect Going In Style to be such a smashing success at box office. In fact prereleasing tracking predicted the film would be lucky to gross $8 million in North America. And yet the film grossed more than $12.5 million, performing particularly well in areas where retirees congregate.
The Moore Warren Theatre in Oklahoma City was No. 1 over opening weekend, followed by Harkins’ Superstition Springs Theatre in Phoenix.
The secret behind such box office success? Statistics know it best, more than 70 percent of the audience was over the age of 50 or to put it another way, just 5 percent of ticket buyers were under 25.
Following in the footsteps of successes such as Last Vegas and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Going In Style appealed to an older audience which identified easily with the older cast and the story. Not so surprising, all these films surprised with smashing box office and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel went on to gross $136,836,156 worldwide!
Going In Style producer, Donald De Line admitted, “It deals with a lot of different themes — one of them being ageism and one of them being people in our society getting taken advantage of, working their whole lives and having nothing to show for it”.
“It’s about getting what you earned, what you deserve and what has been cheated from you”, admitted Arkin while interviewed for the film. “Taking it back”, added Freeman. “We’re playing those millions”, said Freeman – men and women, robbed of their homes and their savings. “Which is a criminal act, as far as I’m concerned”.
if we take a look at recent big releases such as action and romantic flicks, Beauty And The Beast, Logan or Star Wars, it is unlikely to arouse anyone within the elder crowd. But Zach Braff is here to freshen things up, the same way he did with indie cult classic, Garden State, back in 2004.
With Garden State, Braff showed what indie filmmaking was really all about. From his skillful and detailed arrangement of scenes and his clever use of music, showcasing artists such as The Shins, Thievery Corporation and Zero 7 that, for some, will forever be associated with this film.
Garden State, loosely inspired by Braff‘s own experience of being a struggling actor, is a truly personal project, and the key reason why audiences reacted and related to it so positively.
With Going In Style, Braff is obviously not going as personal, but it does seem like he is giving its rightful audience what they want or maybe even what they need!
Going In Style, also starring Joey King, Ann-Margret and Matt Dillon, was released in the USA and the UK on April 7.
#Peace.Love.GoingInStyle
