The Gobble Project: Grumpy Old Men

 Grumpy Old Men is one of my favorite comedies of all time.  Its representation of the upper Midwest is so accurate, that when things are happening out of doors in Mark Steven Johnson's film, I feel like I'm there in the frigid cold and milk-white snow.

And I miss it so much.

The film takes place leading into Thanksgiving.  I love Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.  They can do no wrong on screen and their presence in this frozen Minnesota wasteland is so true and feels so real that all the pieces of a wonderful holiday movie are in place.

Most disagree on this being a holiday film.  It's the kind of argument had about Die Hard and Lethal Weapon (both Christmas movies by the way).  But if you take this movie apart, its easy to see how it's all there.  The weather-engulfed scenery and hijinks, the families attempting to manage some sort of bonding rituals, and heartwarming results.

Matthau and Lemmon's characters are age-old friends who have been severely arguing off and on for 40 years, basically.  For many reasons.  This time around it's Ann-Margret. 

They refer to each other as "moron" and "putz".  Sometimes with affection, often with venom.  They use the winter elements to prank each other as their common friends watch with dismay and shaking heads.  In essence, they act like 8 year olds in 70 year old bodies.

But it's a touching film too. There is a scene that always gets my eyes to water a bit.  Matthau's character has saved Lemmon's life, as he has suffered a heart attack.  At the hospital, he's asked by the nurse as he's the one who brought him in to the facility, 

"Are you family or friend?"

A short pause, a thousands thoughts cross Matthau's face, and he says, in a raspy tone with shaky enunciation that makes my peepers well up no matter how many times I've seen this film:

"Friend."

Oh, this is a holiday film alright, and a Thanksgiving fit indeed.

Despite the often crass humor, you are gifted with the opportunity to watch the masters of their craft who have worked together nigh on 12 films in their cinematic history.  They were the original Odd Couple and I love them dearly. 

And miss them every day. 

If you want a film about friendship and love, Grumpy Old Men is it.

By the way, both this film and its sequel, Grumpier Old Men,  have the best collection of out-takes at the end that are not in a Jackie Chan film.