Out @ Sea I purchased this DVD for my 8o year old neighbour who saw it on telly and said it was the funniest film he had seen in years.
"I need to take a crap and a nap..." I'm sorry, I just had to...I swear I've never laughed so hard...Okay, anyways, 'Out to Sea' starring the odd couple themselves Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau has loads of laughs and even, believe it or not, a little bit of heart. The story is about two friends, widower Herb (Lemmon) and his care-free scheming brother-in-law Charlie (Matthau), who end up with a free cruise when they pose as dance instructors. The only catch is they have to dance with the single women on board. Herb, the one who doesn't even want to be there, is the only one of the two that takes this job seriously, and in the process falls for Vivian (Gloria De Haven), a recently widowed woman who's tagged along with her daughter on her honeymoon. Charlie on the other hand has his eye on the younger, wealthier Liz (Dyan Cannon). All the while their plans of romance are thrown off by the high-strung cruise director Gil Godwyn (Brent Spiner) who's vying for a promotion. There are plenty of funny spots here, and not a dull moment, and as a nice touch it ends on a very happy and somewhat heartwarming note. Great fun and loads of laughs all on the seven seas!Lemmon and Matthau make the best of a weak script Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are considered one of the great film teams. Their partnership created 11 films (one film Walter starred in Jack directed and two films they both appeared in but were not the costars) over 32 years and created the one of the most beloved pairings, Oscar Madison and Felix Unger.
Out to Sea was the 10th film and it is a rehash of many of their other films (together and apart). Herb (Lemmon) is a widower. Charlie (Matthau) is his brother-in-law. Just as Oscar and Felix, Herb and Jack are opposites. Charlie has gotten into some trouble with loan sharks and needs to get away for a while. He decides to take a cruise and takes his brother in law along.
The thing that he doesn't tell him is the reason it is free is that they are to be dance hosts. And there is one strict rule that they are not to fraternize with the paying guests. But Charlie is planning to catch himself a rich widow. And on the airplane Herb meets a beautiful widow (Gloria DeHaven). But Charlie introduces Herb as his doctor. Herb runs into her, of course, on the boat and tries to keep up his cover.
Charlie stumbles into a state room and meets an heiress (Dyan Cannon) and her mother (Elaine Strich.) Of course Charlie goes after the daughter. And the cruise director (Brent Spiner) is trying to catch the boys.
There is a lot of deception going on but it is not just the boys. In the end the boys get the girls and we have a happy ending.
Jack and Walter are masters of their craft. And while this film is as creaky as they come, the cast make it work. Dyan Cannon gives one of her best performances (probably since her Oscar nominated work in Heaven Can Wait.) And it is great to see Gloria DeHaven back in front of the cameras - and looking fabulous! Donald O'Connor gets to show he still can dance as one of the host along with Hal Linden. Golden Girl Rue McClannahan also makes an appearance as the owner of the ship.
As I have said before a bad Lemmon Matthau film is better than most other films.
