Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES III & IV • November 13, 2013 Seasoned professionals enliven latest buddy film by Dennis Seuling “Last Vegas” combines broad comedy, an interesting back story, sentimentality, romance, and veteran actors strutting their stuff. It is not the most original movie ever made, but it is entertaining to watch movie stars so smoothly and effortlessly inhabit their characters. In a terrific prologue, viewers are introduced to a bunch of youthful pals, “The Flatbush Four.” A latter-day version of the Four Musketeers, these friends raised hell as kids and remained close throughout their lives. Billy (Michael Douglas) is about to marry a woman (Bre Blair) half his age. A reunion/bachelor party in Las Vegas with longtime friends Archie, Sam, and Paddy brings old resentments to the surface as the four senior citizens pull out all the stops to have a weekend they will never forget. Archie (Morgan Freeman) has serious health problems and feels smothered by his caring son’s over-protection. Sam (Kevin Kline), happily married, has fallen into a funk Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, and Michael Douglas play lifelong friends having a wild bachelor party week- end in ‘Last Vegas.’ and longs to feel alive. Paddy (Robert De Niro) sits home in his bathrobe, still mourning the death of his wife of 40 years. Billy, the most successful financially, hates that he is aging and, to compensate, lives the life of a playboy. Director Jon Turtletaub has put together a mixed bag. On the surface, the film is a jolly look at old codgers kick- ing up their heels in Sin City. However, beneath the glitz and neon is a touching personal story. Turtletaub finds the right balance between the two. With a less stellar cast, this would be a routine, by-the-numbers comedy, but the four stars are great to watch and add a unique level of fun. Their stay in Vegas takes them from one mini-adventure to another, whether confronting a young, boorish gambler at the blackjack table, wooing an attractive lounge singer (Mary Steenburgen), cutting loose on the dance floor, judg- ing a bikini contest, or sharing a suite designed for jet set- ters and high rollers. Steenburgen’s Diana becomes the focus of interest of both Billy and Paddy as she questions Billy’s consuming desire to surround himself with youth. Diana provides a voice of reason while exuding an appealing, age-appropri- ate sensuality. If there is one flaw, it is in an early scene, just as Sam is being dropped off at the airport by his wife (Joanna Gleason). She basically gives him permission to go wild in Vegas. This rings both tasteless and false, since Sam is por- trayed as happily married. The offer comes out of left field from writer Dan Fogelman, who is otherwise consistent. There is much in “Last Vegas” to like. The four leads work well together and have good chemistry. Each gets substantial screen time, as does Steenburgen. The action spans assorted well known Vegas hot spots. Rated PG-13, “Last Vegas” has heart and treats its aging characters as human beings rather than walking jokes.