Stand Up Guys

After 28 years in prison, Valentine (Al Pacino) gets paroled, only to find that his best friend and former partner in crime (Christopher Walken) is tasked with killing him. With the clock ticking toward the hit deadline, the two aging criminals explore ways to make the night memorable, including teaming up with another former associate (Alan Arkin).

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As you can imagine, an ex-con and his buddies living it up would be accompanied by foul language, irreverent behavior and plenty of violence. You’d be right. ClearPlay cuts more than 100 instances of profanity (half of them, the F-word), partial nudity, discussions of sex (including an extended sequence dealing with erectile dysfunction), and bloody brutality. Even ClearPlayed, the amoral romp is best suited for mature audiences.

Should I sit down for Stand Up Guys?...

As rip-roaring as it sounds, Stand Up Guys is a bit of a dud, despite its all-star cast. The dialogue surprisingly tends toward the mundane, and the characters aren’t terribly likable. Nevertheless, the addition of Arkin improves the team chemistry, and the hoods with their own brand of honor grow on you as the movie progresses. If you’re a big fan of any of the actors, you may enjoy their night of bad behavior. Otherwise, consider going straight.

Marty Nabhan - ClearPlay Felonious Monk

Rated R for language, sexual content, violence and brief drug use; 95 min; Directed by Fisher Stevens