Out to Sea (1997) - Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau movies, with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, or one or the other

"We're not working. We're dancing and cavorting."

Director
Martha Coolidge

Cast
Jack Lemmon - Herb Sullivan
Walter Matthau - Charlie Gordon
Dyan Cannon - Liz LaBreche
Gloria DeHaven - Vivian
Brent Spiner - Gil Godwyn
Elaine Stritch - Mavis LaBreche
Estelle Harris - Bridget

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau's 1997 comedy "Out to Sea" feels more like a new adventure comedy spin-off of "The Odd Couple" because it centers on a Felix Ungar & Oscar Madison-esque pair of characters who meander onto a cruise ship, find romance, and hilarity ensues. 

All the while, the movie tries not to be "The Odd Couple" while modeling itself with the same general comedic formula. 

"Out to Sea" was released after "Grumpier Old Men" and has become a much-too-forgotten forgotten movie. 

It's a fair attempt for Lemmon and Matthau to do a picture that's different enough from their previous films but ends up being similar in comedic style to their last two. 

The comedy and plot of "Out to Sea" reminds me of early comedy shorts with, say, Laurel and Hardy or any other comedian or comedy team finding themselves in a whole new scenario in each short. 

Lemmon and Matthau play their usual comedy duo routine in a setting that's new to them. In this case, they play brothers-in-law who hop aboard a luxury cruise working as dance hosts. Well, maybe it's not all completely new. They also play brothers-in-law in "The Fortune Cookie." 

Jack Lemmon's character is the cautious one who misses his late wife. Walter Matthau is the sleazy, flirty old man always taking the easy way. This trope also goes back to "The Fortune Cookie." Once again. they're basically playing opposites. 

In this movie, Herb Sullivan (Jack Lemmon) is talked into going on a cruise with his compulsive gambling brother-in-law, Charlie Gordon (Walter Matthau). Charlie, however, doesn't tell Herb that he signed them both up to work as dance instructors on a cruise so they can get on for free. He simply tells Herb that it's a "free cruise." 

Of course, he waits until the ship sets sail to let Herb know they need to work. And if they don't work as dance instructors, they'll have to shell out a few thousand for the cost of the cruise ticket. If they can't pay, then they'll get kicked off. Charlie claims he's trying to do Herb a favor because Herb's wife, Susie has passed away and Herb misses her dearly. 

To add insult to injury, Herb and Charlie have to stay in a cramped cabin. 

They both work under the strict supervision of the head entertainer Gil Godwyn (Brent Spiner) who isn't really impressed by either of them, especially with Charlie. 

The two men meet women aboard the ship whom they take an interest in.
Herb meets Vivian (Gloria DeHaven) who is on the cruise with her daughter and her daughter's

newlywed husband. They hope Viv will find a man on board and start dating once again. She works as a book editor and is under the impression that Herb is actually a doctor rather than a dance instructor.

Herb falls for Viv but is still emotionally tied to Susie. So, he has conflicted feelings even after Viv falls for him as well. Wait! Jack Lemmon's character is emotionally tied to a wife who's no longer in the picture, and that's getting in the way of a potential romance! Where have I seen that before? 
Charlie, meanwhile, meets up with Liz LaBreche (Dyan Cannon) during a poker game with a couple of well-to-do, uppity gentleman on the ship. 

He fast-talks his way through the game and wins a sizeable amount of cash off one of the men 

Charlie is under the impression Liz is also very well off. She's sailing with her mom, Mavis (Elaine Stritch) who has a sharp sarcastic tongue and sees right through the kind of person Charlie is. Of course, Liz isn't all she appears to be.
Both men pursue their newfound romances. But when the truth comes out that Herb isn't really a doctor, and Charlie isn't well off as he tries to make himself appear, the budding relationships start to crumble.
Meanwhile, Gil is completely frustrated with the two wants them off the ship. He's also working to get a promotion from the ship's owner, Ellen Carruthers (Rue McClanahan). 

Once again, Matthau plays the careless risk-taking irresponsible yet lovingly rogue character similar to his role as Oscar Madison. This contrasts Lemmon's role as a gentle, cautious, and more timid character who doesn't want to go along with what Matthau has up his sleeve. 

Brent Spiner with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in "Out to Sea." 

The chemistry is there, and as strong as always. There are some genuinely funny scenes. And there's some emotion, especially with Herb's inner struggle to find new love while letting go of his deceased wife. I can't tell if it's overplayed or underplayed. I admit I did not feel much while watching these old comedians try to find love, lie, and then win the hearts of the ladies regardless. 

I like this movie better than their previous "Grumpier Old Men" as "Out to Sea" is steady in its comedy from beginning to end. It flows well and has a respectable and funny supporting cast. Brent Spiner is ridiculously fun to watch. Spiner gives the movie a nervous, tightly wound energy that plays perfectly against Matthau's shambling looseness.

You can tell that Charlie wants to slap this guy and then call him a dumb schmuck. 

I'll be honest. I was less interested in the romance and how these two guys would manage to win the hearts of their respective ladies as I was in just watching Lemmon and Matthau play off each other in a scenario original to them. 

The movie also stars Gloria DeHaven whose first film appearance was in Charlie Chaplin's 1936 movie, "Modern Times" in an uncredited role. "Out to Sea" is her final film role. First appearing in a Chaplin masterpiece and then capping her movie career with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is a superb full circle. 

"Out to Sea" is truly a respectable comedy that manages to get enough laughs. It's certainly not as great or even as memorable as "The Odd Couple" or "The Fortune Cookie." It succeeds as Lemmon and Matthau are effortlessly funny off of each other. Their chemistry is just as strong as it is in those previous movies of theirs. They're the primary reason to watch this movie. 

And they pair up one more time in the next movie of theirs I'll be commenting on soon.