Out to Sea

Walter Matthau plays Charlie Gordon who cons his widower brother-in-law Herb Sullivan (Jack Lemmon) into a cruise in search of rich and lonely ladies.What he doesn't tell Herb is that they have to be dance hosts. Out to Sea from 1997 is a comedy with excellent actors.There are great performances from Elaine Stritch, Dyan Cannon, Gloria DeHaven, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Harris, Hal Linden and Donald O'Connor.Lemmon and Matthau make a great team in the lead.This movie would be much worse without them.This legendary couple saves the movie.They're both dead now.Matthau died July 1st 2000 and Lemmon June 27th 2001.These two made us laugh in so many movies.The world of comedy lost a lot with them.So thanks for the laughs you two.We will miss you very much.

Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, both of whom are sadly missed, proved once again that they were a team dedicated to their craft of bringing hilarious moments to the screen. This film is just another example of this.

This time out they play two brothers-in-law who land on a ship as dance instructors on board.

Of course, their boss is a perfectionist and miserable person named Gil Godwin who just enjoys harassing these boys. It's hilarious how Lemmon gives a quick lesson in dancing to Matthau and how the latter dances a riotous rumba with the boat's owner Rue McLanahan.

Too bad that fellow dance instructors Hal Linden and Donald O'Connor are given so little to do but their parts call for that. Matthau falls for Dyan Cannon, on board with her fellow gold-digging mother, the usual outrageous Elaine Stritch. Unknown to them, Matthau has no money either. The widower Lemmon falls for Gloria De Haven, looking lovelier than ever.

The film belongs to Matthau and Lemmon and will serve as a further tribute to their illustrious careers.

You can't help but be impressed with the cast list! It's truly a high school reunion of the class of Hollywood Greats, but perhaps that's not enough.

This is your typical Lemmon/Matthau comedy of recent years. Matthau constantly getting Lemmon into trouble. I'm sure many people would find it irritating to see two rather old men trying to regain their lost youth and still chasing the 'broads' round the boat, but because it's Jack and Walter I'm prepared to give them that privilege!

They manage to get jobs on a cruise ship as dance hosts which Walter's character Charlie sees as a chance to meet and wed a young, beautiful and wealthy woman, in the form of Dyan Cannon. Jack's character, Herb, is as usual the more sensible one, who finds love with a woman his own age (played by Gloria De Haven), and after the obligatory problems along the way, they all get together in the end.

I was impressed to spot Donald o'Connor in the line-up and he proves, in his one moment in the spotlight that he can still move. I found the regular comic inserts that cropped up from O'Connor and Hal Linden to be quite amusing. The romantic matching of Matthau and Dyan Cannon is, frankly, just weird. Brent Spiner is quite funny as the pompous cruise director, Gil Godwyn, but, to me, Elaine Stritch's was by far the funniest role playing Dyan Cannon's mother, she was very good. I cannot bring myself to criticize Jack and Walter, I still think Jack has that poor helpless victim style of acting that he often had in his roles which I love, and Walter is his usual lovable rogue! Like I say, it is nice to see them all again.

Personally, it felt more like an excuse for some old-timers to get together again and have a few laughs, which is fine and quite interesting to see, but not a must see!

I found this movie to be quite good. Although some people call this movie the "Grumpy Old Men And The Sea" it is hilarious at the right moments and soft at others. Matthau and Lemmon are two great actors and if you like one or both of them, be sure not to miss this film.

Charlie Gordon (Walter Matthau) is the guy who can't seem to let go of horse racing. The debts pile up high on his head. So, he decides that it is time for him and his brother-in-law to take a trip out on the open seas. His brother-in-law, Herb Sullivan (Jack Lemmon) whose wife passed away reluctantly tags along. It is not until they board the Westerdam that it is realized that Charlie signed them up as dance hosts. What follows is some hilarious antics not only on the open seas, but on the dance floor. And a sweet love story also comes along too. People criticize this movie for the pointlessness it brings. It is actually quite funny, but seems to be geared more toward the seniors' group. I think this movie was quite good. Rent it for a weekend and just see.