Men’s Friendships: “Going in Style” the movie
Disclosure: Warner Bros. Pictures sponsored this post but all opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Alan Arkin, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine (Credit: Warner Brothers)
With all the emphasis on female friendships —both in real life and in popular culture—male friendships are too often overlooked. Although they are less spoken about, they are just as important.
Countless novels, TV programs and films portray women’s tight-knit relationships but only occasionally, are male friendships depicted on the silver screen.
That’s why I’m excited about the upcoming release of “Going In Style,” which promises to be a delightful comedy about three retirees, Willie, Joe and Al (played by Oscar winners Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin, respectively), who plan a bank heist.
Warner Brothers will be releasing the film in theaters across the country on Friday, April 7, 2017.
An update of a 1979 classic with the same name (which starred Art Carney, George Burns and Lee Strasburg), the premise of the new film couldn’t be more timely. Three lifelong buddies of a certain age learn that the steel company that once employed them has had all its pension funds frozen by the bank. This leaves them in the lurch, unable to pay their bills. Having to rely on Social Security alone, they foresee a dim financial future.
Rather than give up and roll over, the improbable outlaws decide to rob the bank that robbed them to regain the financial cushion they earned and lost. Borrowing from the heroic tale of Robin Hood, the buddies even agree to donate any extra cash they rake in from the robbery to charity.
Alan Arkin (Credit: Warner Brothers)
Men’s friendships are often under-rated
Many men have long-standing friendships dating back decades like these guys do. They may be buddies who lived on the same block, guys who went to the same schools, sports nuts who played on the same team, or former co-workers at the plant or office.
Regardless of gender, there’s a decided advantage to maintaining old friends: They have a longitudinal view of you as a person because they knew you “when.” They remember your youth, vitality and zest—even if it may have diminished a bit over time.
Although men’s friendships may be qualitatively different (men tend to share activities whereas women tend to share emotions), the bonds between men can be just as powerful:
- Every guy wants to feel understood and part of something larger than himself.
- Men can’t always share everything with their partners even if they’re married. (As men age, many lose their partners through death or divorce).
- Friendship with old friends can feel effortless. They’re easy to communicate with and just seem to “get you.”
- By providing a listening ear, friends make you a better parent and/or partner.
- Good friends help improve our health, encouraging us to adopt good habits and to get medical care or treatment when needed.
A real bromance
Gosh, how I wish I were on the set to witness the real-life bromance among these film legends. It may be hard to believe but the chronological age of the three male leads totals 246 years of acting and life experience!
The movie was directed by 41-year-old Zach Braff, the talented comedian, actor, and director probably best known for his flick, Garden State, and also for appearing on the TV series, Scrubs.
This comedy makes a serious case for never giving up and staying tight with your besties regardless of age or gender!
Watch the official trailer
Visit the Official Website for Going In Style.
Category: KEEPING FRIENDS
Even if it takes two to tango!
Men mostly mind their OWN business..
I’m so excited about this one, too! It sounds like a good, timely subject full of great acting and lots of laughs.
I’m glad to see movies like this.
I also want to point out a couple things.
1) It’s more socially acceptable for women to seek female friendships than men to seek male friendships.
Women tend to invite each other places. In every office I’ve worked, women have girls nights. They have baby showers, parties, while the men never do these things–and I mean ever. Men are often expected to be the three “S’es” –Strong, Stoic and Solitary.
In the last few years, I’ve gone to a dojo. While I’m made a few surface friends there, the dojo itself sponsors “Women Only Workshops” on a quarterly basis. These workshops always end with an informal social for the female martial artists to get a drink together at a local bar.
Although the dojo is 90% male, the owners never advertise a men’s only event. I’ve tried to gather the guys for a beer after class, but they have say that they have to get home because their wives are waiting.
2) This may be taboo, but I believe that women often don’t like their husbands to have friends. Wives often show very little respect for their husbands social life outside the home.
As a man, I’ve had numerous plans wrecked for the following reason: “My wife made dinner and wants me home” or the classic “my wife doesn’t like me out late.”
Put these reasons in perspective. Do women ever tell their female friends, “My husband doesn’t like me out late?” I believe that a man who controls his wife’s time this much would be considered a tyrant, and yet it is ok for women to demand their husband be home immediately after work—with no exceptions.
Why do wives place so little value on their husbands friends?
Jarod, I agree with you and don’t understand why some wives act this way. I’ve been married for 22 years and don’t mind when my husband socializes with his friends. He’s always been a part of big organizations (our local fire hall plus the large company he works for) and with that comes a lot of people to know and to get to know. I don’t always gel with every co-worker, fellow volunteer firefighter, or wife or girlfriend, but that’s OK- I have my own friends, a full-time job- you get the picture! Just a suggestion, for what it’s worth: if you like poker and/or euchre, maybe look for a group that plays regularly or often? Beer and cards seem to go hand in hand and I’m willing to bet most card players are still male who like to play well into the (late) night!
Some wives do act this way.However, keep in mind that some of them may be home all day with small children and need a break. Maybe their hubbies are never around to help, not just when you want to have plans with them. Also, there’s always the possibility they decide they don’t want to go and use their wives as an excuse. There’s always 2 sides to the story.