User reviews

I can't believe the reviews from these Roger Ebert wannabes that tear it down; it wasn't supposed to make a statement or have a sound plot --- it's a COMEDY, you idiots! The numerous one-liners in this movie are priceless, and if you can't appreciate how enjoyable it is, you've gotten way too serious about movies, folks. Its humor has withstood the test of time and it's a solid 7 of 10. This is one of Williams and Matthau's funniest and well worth your time. Would you believe that I never noticed that Robin flashed his genitals in the hospital scene until my wife saw it for the first time and pointed it out --- women have a heckuva radar for those things!

The Survivors was unjustly overlooked. It's a very funny and original comedy featuring one of Robin Williams' most inventive performances. It's a chance to see Williams at his most volatile and daring, before he adapted his persona to bland "family" movies like Patch Adams. He has an excellent foil here in Walter Matthau. Check it out.

"The Survivors" is characteristic of Robin Williams's movies before "Good Morning, Vietnam": innocuously silly. In this case, he and Walter Matthau join up after surviving a robbery, and Williams becomes a survivalist. The whole thing is pretty goofy - maybe even pointless - but some of the gags make up for that. I will say that it's not the funniest movie for either star by a long shot; both have done far better than this. But, it's the sort of movie that you sit around in your underwear and watch; it does a respectable job showing both stars' talents. Good for a few laughs.

Shooting a man's gun. Ha!

This is classic Robin Williams! The plot is full of holes and overall it's fairly pointless, but this movie makes me laugh and grin no matter how many times I watch it. The best scenes take place in a snowy New England forest, and the movie does an awesome job of capturing the atmosphere.

the "survivors" is absolutely one of the finest comedies i've come across. never is williams better than when playing the deluded idiot, and this is his finest hour in that persona. matthau's opposite, more reserved approach works perfectly to temper williams' madness. and jerry reed is fantastic as the hit man who may or may not have been responsible for teamster boss jimmy hoffa's disappearance. i must urge those (and there are many) who consider this classic to be a turkey to give it another chance.

This was a major disappointment for me. I have always been a fan of Walter Matthau and Robin Williams and director Michael Ritchie, but not even the three of them together could breathe any life into this dry film. Williams' character, Donald, is a neurotic, bumbling idiot who is unforgivably paranoid, and his relentless struggle to make some sense out of his life simply isn't funny nor interesting. Sonny Paluso (Matthau) is a sour old fart who, of course, eventually warms up to Donald (aaaaaaawwwwwwhhhhhh). I went to see this with a friend, and , aside from two other people, we were the only ones in the entire cinema--not a bit surprising. The World According to Garp is a much better representation of Williams' early '80's efforts. As for Matthau and Ritchie, stick with The Bad News Bears.

Recently revisited the classic The Survivors (1983) on Tubi. The storyline revolves around two individuals who, by a stroke of fate, become friends after losing their jobs simultaneously and accidentally thwarting a hitman's plan. Following these events, the younger friend decides to retreat from society and join an extreme survivalist group in the mountains, while the older friend contemplates how to bounce back financially. However, when the vengeful hitman returns, the two friends must reunite and work together once more.

Directed by Michael Ritchie (The Golden Child), the film features an exceptional cast, including Walter Matthau (Grumpy Old Men), Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire), Jerry Reed (Smokey and the Bandit) and James Wainwright (Beyond Westworld).

Walter Matthau and Robin Williams absolutely nailed their respective roles. Their facial expressions, mannerisms, and delivery of dialogue were flawless from start to finish. Robin Williams brought a wild, unpredictable, and utterly engaging quality to his character, making it impossible not to embrace his random and awkward persona. Matthau's reactions to Williams were consistently hilarious, and their on-screen chemistry was spot-on. Jerry Reed played a memorable villain, and the film's circumstances were uniquely entertaining within the comedy genre.

In conclusion, The Survivors is a distinctive and well-executed addition to the comedy genre. I would rate this a 7-7.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

This is another one of those rambling, pointless mid-1980's comedies that keep going on and on, without having anything to say, and without caring if the viewer is still amused or interested. The teaming of Matthau and Williams may appear promising, but it doesn't pay off, and the film is scarcely funny. Halfway through, the thin script has run completely out of steam, and there is nothing for the viewer to expect...apart from the redeeming "THE END", of course.

When you come across one of those moments in life when you really need to catch hold of a spark of brilliance you should hold onto it and glow warmly in its presence. This film is one of those moments. It sparks and creates a wonderful mix of tragic characters interacting in a modern world, confused and not sure about their place, shattered by stupid events that happen around them to place them together. Robin Williams decent into understandable weakness provides cream for your coffee – sacked by a parrot, driving the same car as all his fellow corporate colleagues he blunders into a world he only read about and slipped and scrawled crashing into a frightened world where the big cesspool awaits. Walter in a parallel world falls lower and lower creating empathic moments trying to get by in a simple world where his daughter strolls in his shadow in adolescence. This film contains some superb dialogue and creative comedy that charm the watcher. Robin is sublime and Walter makes sense where there is none. Jack is colossal as a nemesis and indefatigable in his pursuit until his humanity appears on the floor of a wood cabin when all the characters come together. Do not listen to those who believe this is poor, they have not watched and wondered at the connections. Brilliance and eclectic!

I gave it a 8 , and my wife thought it was a 6. Then this film must be a 7. If you have ever been hit by hard luck, one can relate with these characters. Robin Williams, when he was at his funniest, performs this rambling nonsense. Especially when he tells the events of the robbery to his fiancee, does a tv counterpoint (ie there would be no criminals if there were no victims, unless the criminals robbed other criminals, but I am diluting here) and acts out a gun battle. Walter Matthau plays the crabby straight guy who tries to fix events. Small role for Jerry Reed, watch the gas station scene; it's funny. Comedy is so hard to do, it's an art, much easier to make a horror film or action movie, but to get comedy right you have too hit a groove. This film does it!

It seems that many people have enjoyed "The Survivors" and as a huge Walter Matthau fan I sure wanted to be one of them. "The Survivors" is a muddled mess with script problems and, most curiously, problems with the casting of its leading actors Matthau and Robin Williams. Just reading that would make you thing that the casting is inspired but it ends up working against the film. Matthau and Williams have two very distinctive styles of comedy that work against each other and that aspect is clear throughout the movie. These two appear to be starring in different movies even when they are on screen together. Director Michael Ritchie appears to have let Williams and his manic sense of humor go crazy with no attempt to reel him in to a calmer level more suitable for the film. Take a look at "The World According to Garp" where Williams worked with the great George Roy Hill to see a restrained and terrific performance. Sure some of Williams' manic comedy sneaks through there but it was at a minimum. Here Williams is all over the map which is surprising considering director Ritchie's track record of only good movies up to this point ("The Candidate", "Smile" and "The Bad News Bears" among others).

Another problem with the film is the tone of the script. It wants to be satirical, farcical, and dark all at the same time. Had it stuck with just one of those tones we might have had a better movie. Perhaps a satirical look at the difficulties of big business which is suggested in a funny opening scene when Williams is fired by his boss' parrot. Or perhaps a dark comedy about two down on their luck guys who happen across a hit man, trying to stay alive or even perhaps hoping to be killed, as they get their lives in some sort of order. This is hinted at but the story falls flat with the casting of Jerry Reed as the hit man who turns out to be a likable guy. Reed never convinced me he was anything more then the Snowman with a gun waiting for Burt Reynolds. He always seems to be winking at himself and never comes off as menacing. And the last act of the film at the survivalist outing is so mundane and silly it doesn't even belong in this film.

"The Survivors" could have been a really special film had director Ritchie reigned in and restrained Williams some and having the script go through major overhauls instead of looking like they shot a first draft. As it now stands there are a few laughs and it's not a total waste of time but will be a huge disappointment to fans of the lead actors.

Despite being from 1983, then I will say that "The Survivors" actually still holds its ground today, and can still be watched as a movie that was filmed recently.

The story is about Sonny (played by Walther Matthau) who lost his gas station in an accident after 12 years of running it, and also the story of Donald (played by Robin Williams) who was fired from his upscale corporate job by a parrot nonetheless. The paths intertwine when they are at the same diner when a would-be robber attempts to rob the establishment.

Storywise, then "The Survivors" is fairly straight forward and simple. The story doesn't really require much from the audience. But what makes the movie work is the on screen charisma of both Walther Matthau and Robin Williams, and when put together they are like fire and ice.

While this is a comedy, then it is not the type of comedy that will have you laying down with cramps from laughing. The comedy here is more subtle and indirect.

There are some great one liners throughout the movie. And while this is a comedy, then it should be said that the movie does present a rather colorful take on the American rights to bear arms.

If you haven't already seen "The Survivors", then take note that it is well worth spending an hour an a half on.

The Survivors is not the Best film of any of the casts' careers, but I found it pretty funny for the most part. Matthau's sticks to his grouchy old man routine and Williams to his manic everyman. The rest of the cast is OK. There is a little social commentary which is a little dated by now, but still. I liked it.

Young upper management executive Donald (Williams) gets canned as part of a restructuring. With his mind occupied by that he quite accidentally leaves a sizable gasoline spill outside a petrol station/auto shop just before its crotchety old proprietor Sonny (Mathau) tosses a stale cancer stick. After that Sonny no longer owns a petrol station/auto shop. Neither man really sees the other or knows what really happened.

These suddenly desperate sad-sacks converge on the local unemployment office whilst Jack (Reed) - one other more desperate yet decidedly more volatile individual is also there. At a nearby diner, while Donald and Sonny are sulking after a miserable day at the mercy of the federal bureaucracy, Jack shows up with a loaded gun and tries to rob the place. Jack has been pushed too far which results in his pushing Donald and Sonny too far. They foil the robbery but Donald is shot. Jack easily orchestrates his getaway.

Becoming cause celebres for their daring good deed in the incident doesn't help Donald or Sonny. The media ridicules them. Worse, Jack gets their names from the news reports and goes hunting after them as Sonny struggles through odd jobs and Donald alienates his fiancé by going to live at a survivalist camp. Tracking Donald to the camp by threatening Sonny, Jack is determined to finally silence both of the odd couple friends. Donald - exhilarated by the whole experience craves a final confrontation.

The film starts quite well to hook the viewer but most of the truly funny material is to be found at the beginning. By the middle it lags and lingers as gaping plot holes remain. The final thirty minutes are mostly unwatchable in the run-up to a nonsensical conclusion. They appeared to be looking for absolutely anything with which they could fashion a satisfactory conclusion for the final cut.

Williams ended up having quite a portfolio of films. But this is one of his earlier endeavors before he became more known for film than as a delightful alien. It's interesting and a little heartbreaking to see him here in his young days. While there were some cute lines in The Survivors, not all of them are delivered by Williams. I am probably not the best critic though, since I was never a big fan of his style. He was a great actor, just not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, I thought this might be a nice throw-back film to simpler times with 2 great actors. The write-up tells us this film is about 2 ordinary men who accidentally become targeted by a hit man. But it's really more of a feature-length finger wag at people who felt the need to learn survival skills, most of whom worried the government might collapse. Back when this film was created, learning how to fend for yourself was considered a big slap in the face to the American narrative of government protection and national prosperity. It's definitely a reminder that we've been through some seemingly insurmountable times before 2020 (although until now we've always had our constitutional freedoms). The film starts off pretty well. It leads us through the struggles of 2 men who've lost their livelihood in one of the hardest economic times. One of them loses all sense of hope. So far, pretty realistic with some ironic humor. But then the writers focus on imagining the worst case is to join a prepper group and train in firearms. This well-touted taboo placed on survivalist through film and media over decades focuses on only the very rouge groups so they can paint them all as uncivilized with vigilante defiance or, such as this film, idiots who are too stupid to think for themselves. That's simply not the case. It never was. I was very disappointed in the last 3/4s of the film - not because of the propaganda but because it just wasn't very good.

The Survivors is about a pair of unlikely buddies who come together after a shared experience chasing off a robber of a fast food place. One's a blue collar guy who loses his business in a crazy accident that incidentally is caused by the white collar guy. How it happens I won't reveal, it's a moment that could have happened in one of Jerry Lewis's films.

Walter Matthau is the blue collar guy and he's the usual gruff Matthau type part. It fits him perfectly. Robin Williams is our business executive who loses his job in a business reorganization after a couple of decades at the same company. I sympathize with Williams, I worked at the same place for 23 years once I found the job I really liked. Not easy to lose familiar and comfortable surroundings.

Williams is in a part that had Woody Allen written all over it. This was early in his big screen career and I think Robin was trying on a lot projects seeing what would fit his particular brand of zany.

Matthau and Williams foil a robbery committed by a man wearing a hood. That is Jerry Reed, a professional hit man doing a little robbery of a fast food place because he's between assignments and has a cash flow problem. Even hit men have to pay the rent. What he does to try and elude folks as to his identity is also pretty funny. Still Matthau pulls his hood off and recognizes him.

Later on these two capture him, but Reed gets out on bail. He feels he has to eliminate these two now because of an indiscreet remark he makes.

But Williams is feeling all kinds of macho now. He joins a survivalist group and becomes obsessed with all kinds of weaponry. Perfect NRA material. His best scenes are in the survivalist camp and it's the part of the film that will make you think Woody Allen.

Not the best or worst from either of the stars. But The Survivors might really been a better film had Woody Allen starred and directed it.

I love to read the reviews of this movie talking about how there are plot holes and the movie lacks direction and on, and on, and on. The Austin Powers movies have plot holes a plenty and virtually no direction or underlying 'ah-ha's...but they're still really funny.

The one liners in this movie are classic Robin Williams and him and Walter Matthau play off each other really well. Throw in Jerry Reed and you have a party. If you're looking for something with plot and direction and some underlying meaning, this is not your movie. If you just want some good laughs in a corny comedy filled with some really great one-liners, this is right up there with the Austin Powers movies. Just don't go into it expecting to see something like Schindlers List and you'll be fine. For all the haters out there...lighten up! Stress'll kill ya!

As I watched The Survivors, I couldn't help but wonder what was going through the mind of director Michael Ritchie when he was presented with the script. Outside of the enormous gaps in plot and development, he had to see some humor in it somewhere to cast two direct opposites of the comedy spectrum to helm this project. There had to be a mission or a reason in Ritchie's mind when he decided that Robin Williams, a fast-talking comedian that can sometimes be uncontrollable, and Walter Matthau, a slow-methodical comedian that appeals to the "every man", would be his key players. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during this opening meeting because this little fly would have spoken up and mentioned that this pairing would doom the script, and possibly put a black mark on both of these actor's careers. I wouldn't just stop there, I would tear this film to pieces trying to get others to explain to me the subsequent ending and missing tone. The only element that I would be content with would be the casting of Jerry Reed, who honestly brought some humor and intelligence to this scarred film. The Survivors was not a film, but instead an attempt to allow two comedians the opportunity to express themselves coupled with heavy firepower. Nothing more, nothing less.

Could somebody, anybody, please help me out with the story surrounding The Survivors? From the zigzag opening centered around the parrot and Robin Williams' job to the incident at Matthau's gas station (a plot point never mentioned or concluded), Ritchie spends no time developing anything. His choice of direction is simply to allow Williams to be as "zany" as possible and see how Matthau reacts to it. If it weren't for Jerry Reed this film would have been nearly an hour and a half of forced jokes, gunshots, and awkward moments. The story was pointless. In most instances I can find bits and pieces of a story which keeps my attention allowing me to be curious about how the ending will resolve itself. For there to be this resolution, there has to be a conflict. Ritchie attempts to create one with the entire "survival of the fittest" byline, but even that idea is never fully announced. I felt like a Ping-Pong ball in this film, constantly going back and forth between Williams and Matthau hoping that I would land on something that scored a point, but alas, this was the game that would never end. Ritchie even takes us into the wilderness in attempts to bring more laughs and eventually draw an ending, but again, nothing happens. Nothing is explained, nothing is developed, nothing is linear. Williams goes into the woods to be trained in survival, yet for the amount of time he was there it was as if he was unable to learn anything. Also, where did he get the funds to buy the house out in the woods? Then, without giving anything away, there was that pathetic ending. WHAT HAPPENED? I use big words there because there was not one iota of a conclusion. Enemies became friends, friends became enemies, and before words could be spoken the ending credits appeared.

I would like to announce this here, but I believe Michael Ritchie could not even handle the simplest of tasks with this film. The direction was horrible because Ritchie could not control his actors. It was obvious as you watched Williams and Matthau on screen that there were getting no advice or pointers from the man behind the camera. Ritchie didn't stop Williams during his rants (which at times were never relevant to the film) and did not help Matthau react to the insanity that Williams was bringing to the table. What should have been the best part of this film was easily the most painful to watch. Williams and Matthau, in this critic's eye, possibly could be ranked as the WORST comic pairing in cinema. Matthau's form of comedy is completely, if not 100%, different to Williams' shenanigans. While in some film cases this would work to a movie's advantage, for The Survivors, it did not. There were no characters for these two comedians to enter into. I sat during the entire hour and a half watching Robin Williams be Robin Williams and the same for Walter Matthau. I could not see any semblance of a character between the two of them. Both seemed to jump from one trait to the next. Neither seemed to have a complete hold or knowledge of who they were attempting to portray. This is half due to the flimsy story, but mainly I place the blame on Ritchie. With Williams and Matthau at the helm, this had the beginnings of a hilarious possible gut-busting, laugh-out-loud comedy that would be a staple in the film community, but Ritchie, in my eyes, could not handle it. He relied to heavily on his actor's comic "personas" instead of actually building characters for them.

Overall, this was a very sad excuse for a film. I have read some other reviews that speak highly of the comedy in this film while do speak similarly of the lacking story, but for me everything was broken. There were no characters, there was no direction, there was obviously no story, and our two central actors didn't work for their money, but just read through their lines and gave a measly 30% to the final product. The only plus I give this film is the accomplishment of Jerry Reed. He was worth watching. The scene between his wife and I was nearly close to perfection. I think it was the only time that I found myself chuckling through this entire film. Ritchie could not handle this film and in the end The Survivors is probably a film that neither Williams or Matthau wants to remember.

Grade: ** out of *****

WHO KNEW there was another Walter Matthau movie that I had never seen?? and teamed up with Robin Williams. righteous. Made in 1983. when they lose their jobs, Sonny and Donald witness a holdup, and are on the run, trying to hide from the bandit (Jerry Reed) who is now out to get them. Reed is probably best known as Cletus, the truck driver from Smokey and the Bandit. To make things worse, one of them becomes a "doomsday prepper", and dares the bandit to come get them! This one needed tightening up.... Sonny has a daughter, and their banter with her really slows things down. and the script just wasn't as funny as some of the writer or the directors' others. written by Michael Leeson, who had written mostly for television, and did the screenplay for War of the Roses, another conflict scenario. Robin Williams is as energetic and goofy as always, and made this right after Mork and Mindy, and Garp. Matthau did this a couple years after my personal favorite, Hopscotch. Survivors wasn't their best work, but it's fun to see anything by Matthau and/or Willliams. Directed by Michael Ritchie, who had also done Fletch. and, of course, the Bad News Bears. part of the fun is mocking the doomsday student trainees, who got more than they expected when they signed up for the course. this gets preachy and serious right near the end, bringing things to a halt yet again. and the ending is pretty lame. This one started so quirky, with the administrative assistant cussing and acting silly, that we kind of lost that sense of fun along the way. it's ok.

Despite starring Walter Matthau and Robin Williams, "The Survivors" has a rather low overall score of 5.8 on IMDB. And, after watching it, I think I understand why. Although the plot idea is good, the situations and characters are so extreme that the story really seems ridiculous...and not in a good way.

When the story begins, Sonny and Donald (Walter Matthau and Robin Williams) are each having horrible days. It culminates with them in the same restaurant...where a crook soon enters to rob the place. Sonny manages to get the gun away from the crook and even sees the guy's face under his mask....and the crook escapes. Soon the crook (Jerry Reed) is out to kill him and Donald in order to prevent them from identifying him.

There are many plot problems with the film. One is that after Jack (Jerry Reed) holds up the restaurant and then tries to kill the witnesses a few days later, the pair manage to disarm Jack. They call the police...who have no one to answer the phone and just have an answering machine. Funny? I dunno...but awfully unrealistic. Later, they take the violent crook to the police station and what happens next also makes no sense. After all, Jack tried to rob a restaurant AND kill the witnesses and they just let him out on bail?? Huh? And, when he then threatens to kill Sonny AGAIN, Sonny doesn't go to the police but agrees to help Jack find Donald?? Huh?

As for Donald, he goes from being a meek, mild mannered man to a survivalist nut after going to a gun store and meeting some extreme characters. This is an interesting idea as there are some scary apocalyptic gun nuts out there (I own guns...don't get the idea I am anti-gun...just anti-nut!).

The bottom line is that there is a kernel of a good story here but too often the characters seem like caricatures and the script sometimes just doesn't make a lot of sense. Very watchable and worth seeing...but also a weak film that just should have been better.