Grumpier Old Men

1995
PG-13
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

30K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:54

Buddy Comedy Comedy Romance

John and Max resolve to save their beloved bait shop from turning into an Italian restaurant, just as its new female owner catches Max's attention.John and Max resolve to save their beloved bait shop from turning into an Italian restaurant, just as its new female owner catches Max's attention.John and Max resolve to save their beloved bait shop from turning into an Italian restaurant, just as its new female owner catches Max's attention.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

30K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,285

269

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

Trivia
This was Burgess Meredith's last film. He died of complications of Alzheimer's disease on September 9, 1997. He showed symptoms at the time of this movie's filming, and had to be coached during each scene in which he appeared. Meredith's acting talents are evident despite his failing mental faculties.

Goofs
John finds his father dead on the couch, but Dad's head bobs slightly and his eyelids move.

Quotes
Grandpa Gustafson: What the... what the hell is this?
John Gustafson: That's lite beer.
Grandpa Gustafson: Gee, I weigh ninety goddamn pounds, and you bring me this sloppin' foam?
John Gustafson: Ariel's got me on a diet because the doc said my cholestorol's a little too high.
Grandpa Gustafson: Well, let me tell you something now, Johnny. Last Thursday, I turned 95 years old. And I never exercised a day in my life. Every morning, I wake up and I smoke a cigarette. And then I eat five strips of bacon. And for lunch, I eat a bacon sandwich. And for a midday snack?
John Gustafson: Bacon.
Grandpa Gustafson: Bacon! A whole damn plate! And I usually drink my dinner. Now, according to all of them flat-belly experts, I should've took a dirt nap like thirty years ago. But each year comes and goes, and I'm still here. Ha! And they keep dyin'. You know? Sometimes I wonder if God forgot about me. Just goes to show you, huh?
John Gustafson: What?
Grandpa Gustafson: Huh?
John Gustafson: Goes to show you what?
Grandpa Gustafson: Well, it just goes... what the hell are you talkin' about?
John Gustafson: Well, you said you drink beer, you eat bacon, and you smoke cigarettes, and you outlive most of the experts.
Grandpa Gustafson: Yeah?
John Gustafson: I thought maybe there's a moral.
Grandpa Gustafson: No, there ain't no moral. I just like that story. That's all. I like that story.

Crazy credits
Outtakes also show Walter Matthau and 'Jack Lemmon' both forgetting their lines, including the names of their characters' respective love interests.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Dead Man Walking/Cutthroat Island/Sudden Death/Grumpier Old Men/Restoration/Waiting to Exhale (1995)

Soundtracks
(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You
Written by Spo-De-Odee
Performed by Louis Armstrong and Louis Jordan
Courtesy of MCA Records

User reviews73

Review

Featured review

7/10

Pretty Dang Funny

John and Max resolve to save their beloved bait shop from turning into an Italian restaurant, just as its new female owner catches Max's attention.

We often expect sequels to be weaker than the original. But sometimes we may be pleasantly surprised. In this sequel, the "grumpy old men" are still up to their old tricks, going after each other and teaming up to close down a restaurant. Some of it may be a bit far-fetched (in real life, a store owner would get the cops involved) but it's good fun.

Sadly, the film has the distinction of being Burgess Meredith's final film. On the plus side, he really goes out with a bang. His acting and delivery of witty lines is top notch, and the film does a great job of hiding his Alzheimer's. You can really feel the talent in his character.