Great Film overall

Fantastic!

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

This is a very lightweight comedy with a lightweight script. But, silly premises are OK for comedy like this. The big value to the film is in the actors it brings together – several in their senior years. Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas were two great actors who entertained millions of moviegoers since the mid-1940s. Here they play two convicts being released from prison after 30 years.But times have changed and Harry Doyle (Lancaster) and Archie Long (Douglas) have more than a little difficulty adjusting. They don't quite fit in. Archie doesn't mind the society changes in the over- sexed gym manager he finds. Harry can't get used to the rudeness and lack of manners and respect he finds all around him. This is a move that should make people think about how our society has changed in some ways that are not for the better. The film has a nice dose of action with some very funny encounters. Charles Durning adds to the humor as the detective (Deke Yablonski) who originally caught the two thieves after they pulled off the last train robbery in U.S. history. A number of other actors lend to the fun of this film. But one stands out – Eli Wallach as Leon Little. None of us know until the very end of the film why this guy has been gunning for the two ex-cons since the day they were released from prison. They don't even know who he is, so that revelation and the film ending are a real hoot. This is a warm-hearted film with a lesson or two that modern folks might gain by. But, because it moves slowly it's not likely that many people of the Millennial generation would sit still for it.

Two of my favorite icon bad boys, are 'on' for the last 'ride' of their lives. I'm sure that while this one won't bring any awards to these two gentlemen, it is one heck of a good time!! The theme song for the movie "They Don't Make Them Like They Used To" Performed by Kenny Rogers was Nominated for a Golden Globe, however. The aging train robbers, it's so old school that it's totally cool. They argue and challenge each other's decisions, they chase women, they make each other laugh and on-top of that those who appreciate these two fine actors laugh a lot more. I have to say as well, that I enjoyed Dana Carvey (Richie)in this, more than anything else I have ever seen him in. With the other classic actor crowd, you have a who's 'who' of talent that spanned decades before this movie was ever made. As a matter of fact when some of these people were in their hay day, the golden age of Hollywood, the director, "Jeff Kanew" was just a cute little baby then. But I must say, that this director did a terrific job with these professional old schoolers and I'm glad it was him. These 'Tough guys' got it all along with a few bad guys and one old near-sighted hit-man, (played by: Eli Wallach) that has had a contract on these two for over thirty years and he is itching to collect on it. Cause he never 'welches' on a contract. Even when the one who paid for the hit-contract, is dead...for three decades now.With an array of classic songs and some current in the mid-eighties rock and alternative stuff, the mix of style and generations colliding together make the communications and miss-understandings hilarious! The street punk-tough guys never knew what hit them, when these two 'classic' operators got-out-the-joint!! New ghetto, old rules. And if it weren't rough enough that these two 'grampa's' (the gang member referred to Archie and Harry as) knocked these guys confidence down and gave them a little pain to remember them by, leave and then the hit-man who's hot on their trail suddenly shows up and asks the gang members where the two old guys went? The members of the gang remember the 'two' tough guys and think, this one guy is looking for both of them!! They panic! Break and run! After they scattered into their holes, the old hit-man seeing their radio blaring on the fence, shouts "Hey! You forgot your jukebox!!" Then Blasts 'it' (The Boombox-Ghetto Blaster) to bits, with a double barrel Winchester shotgun. Pieces everywhere and then silence, the hit-man squints looking through his 'goggles' and complains about noise pollution. But hey! "Don't let the goggles fool ya, he's a 'Sharp shooter!" That scene is a modern day comedy, 'classic' that I loved from the moment the movie previews were showing the 'coming attractions'. This one really hits the satisfaction zone. I gave it an excellent rating because it is. The thing that offended me was Kirk (or Archie) 'dropped trow' showing his 'bum' when he was on top of the train making his get away, although it was funny and some of the women said, that was 'cute'. But that is just something I don't want to see. The two where sharp dressed men though!Seemingly I don't know too many of their generation that fully appreciate them in this 'role' because I believe that some think that they are lowering themselves by being common criminals. Or maybe it's all the cursing, but I say to those of the golden-age of Hollywood generation, they are not but common criminals, they are extraordinary-train robbers, looking for a final Heist. Charles Durning is a good ambitious detective on their trail, who comes of age to an 'understanding' in the final pursuit. They all (director and actors)'were right on the money' to coin an 'oldism' in putting together a well-aged action adventure hero/villain movie. I especially rolled in laughter at the end, when they crossed the Mexican Border. The 'Federallie's' Captain says: "We got you now." And then immediately Archie starts to 'School' him and his band, in the rules of the game. Then, right afterward, the Federally asks "Play by rules, what rules?"And Archie looks at Harry and then "BoOm!!" right in the jewels.--Uggh! Gentlemen, you made a fan and a believer out of a younger generation guy. cheers!

Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas were inexorably linked not just by their co-starring films together, but by the fact that Hedda Hopper in one of her books did a chapter on both of them. She entitled the chapter, The Terrible Tempered Twins and she bemoaned the fact that these two instead of being good little captives of the studio system that kept her in business, had the audacity to chart their own careers. Go into the production end and take total responsibility for the work they did.It would never have worked had not Lancaster and Douglas not been good judges of the roles they were best suited for. Some stars never wanted that kind of responsibility or felt they were poor judges. William Holden said point blank after one picture where he was the producer, the responsibility was too much for him. Robert Taylor was widely quoted that he stayed with MGM as long as he did because he felt they knew best how to present him and what were good film properties.But Burt and Kirk knew their minds and made their own careers work. Fortunately before both of them in the Nineties were felled by illness and Lancaster left us, they gave us one more co-starring part. This one's a comedy though, something different for them. As Harry Doyle and Archie Long two elderly crooks released after a thirty year stretch for robbing the West Coast Flyer train, they find roles perfectly suited to their age and personality.Lancaster's old and he knows it, but he still wants to be treated with some dignity. Douglas hasn't quite figured it out yet, but in time he gets the fact that time's caught up with him. They just can't adjust to changing times so they try all kinds of things to fit in. And then they decide on one spectacular coda to their lives and careers in the wonderful world of crime.The two men are in great form and they get some able support from Alexis Smith, Charles Durning and Dana Carvey in the supporting cast. But special comment must be made for Eli Wallach's seeing eye hit-man. Good thing his part is not as long as the stars because he steals every scene he's in.

Tough Guys, for me, is a very intriguing film, you have two film greats together, and despite their ages, which are beyond their heyday so to speak,, they are still upthere..Of special interest to me was the train the train used, it is not a fictional train but one owned and currently kept up by the City of Portland,Or. -in constant us..it is considered to be the most beautiful train in the world..forerunner to Amtraks Coast Starlight..Overall, the movie is well worth watching to watch two aging guys still pull it off, and if you are a train buff you'll shudder at some of the things that happen to the train too.. See it, Shame it is only VHS