JUST GETTING STARTED
A breezy Christmas comedy with star power, foul language, and adult-only caution.
Should You Watch It?
Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones make this amiable comedy worth considering. Their rivalry at a retirement resort is fun to watch, and director Ron Shelton gives the proceedings a sure professional touch. The movie also offers an uplifting message that life does not have to stop in your golden years.
Christmas gives the film an unexpected positive center. Religious carols about Jesus and the salvation connected to His birth appear throughout, including “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Silent Night.” The two men also eventually work together against a common threat.
The cost is substantial. The film contains plenty of PG-13 foul language, including one “f” word and one GD, along with implied sexual promiscuity, lewd comic references, and alcohol use. Adults who can handle those concerns may find a light Christmas diversion here. Families with children or young teens should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAt a Palm Springs retirement resort, Duke Diver manages the activities, enjoys the attention of several women, and considers himself the Big Kahuna. His comfortable routine changes when Leo McCabe, a wealthy former military man, arrives and begins competing with him for attention—and for the affection of a new resident named Suzie.
Duke is also secretly living under federal witness protection. When danger reaches the resort, the rivalry takes on a more serious edge.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an entertaining but imperfect comedy. Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones are the film’s greatest strength, joyfully trying to outdo one another as Duke and Leo. Rene Russo gives their rivalry a clear focus, and the golf contest and game-room competition provide some amusing set pieces.
Ron Shelton’s direction is professional and sure-handed. The Christmas songs and carols add warmth, and the two leading men working together against a threat gives the story a positive turn.
The film could be funnier and more exciting. The assassin plot also fades from attention in the middle. It is an amiable diversion rather than a standout comedy.
The Worldview
The film presents a light Christian, moral worldview that celebrates living a full life during the golden years. Its most positive material comes through Christmas carols and songs, including “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night,” and “Good King Wenceslas,” with references to Jesus, Christmas, Christianity, and the salvation connected to Jesus’ birth. Someone also says, “Only God is perfect.”
That message is complicated by antinomian, hedonistic behavior from one of the male leads and the women he pursues. Duke’s sexual behavior is treated as part of the comedy, while Leo is presented as genuinely interested in one woman rather than philandering. The movie also includes a positive movement from rivalry to friendship.
The film’s longing for a full and meaningful life is good as far as it goes, but Scripture places our deepest hope beyond earthly pleasures and achievements: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Light Christian, moral worldview celebrates living a full life during your golden years and contains some positive Christmas carols and songs, including the two male leads sing a good portion of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” plus there are some other Christmas carols that refer to Jesus, Christmas and Christianity, such as “Silent Night” and “Good King Wenceslas,” along with Christmas songs like “Winter Wonderland” sung by Johnny Mathis, plus someone says, “Only God is perfect,” mitigated by some antinomian hedonistic behavior on the part of one of the two male leads and the ladies he pursues.
Foul Language
About 44 obscenities (including one “f” word and some “s” words along with “h” and “d” words), one GD and one possible Jesus profanity which sounded muffled so it was hard to hear or tell if it actually occurs, and nine light exclamatory profanities.
Violence
Light violence with a comical tone includes woman asks someone to kill another person but make it look like an accident, a couple fighting scenes, in one fight scene a Christmas tree is knocked down, man finds a rattlesnake in his bag, people try to deal with the rattlesnake, rattlesnake is put in a bucket, and a man is asked to sit on the bucket’s lid to make sure the snake doesn’t escape, a small bomb explodes a golf cart, two vehicles chase one another down a dirt road, man kidnaps woman, gun shot out of criminal’s hand and he’s wounded with another gunshot, and a coyote tries to take away a small dog, but man shoots the coyote and frees the dog.
Sex
No depicted sex scenes, but it’s implied retired manager of a resort for retired folks sleeps around with some of the older ladies, the ladies are referred to as the man’s harem by one of his buddies, manager has arranged a rendezvous with one lady, but another lady shows up in his bed, and later she shows up in his tub in a bubble bath, but it’s the man’s poker night so he leaves both women, manager’s rival falls in love with a new woman to the resort (it’s implied that the rival isn’t interested in philandering), plus a side character tells a light dirty joke.
Nudity
No explicit nudity but woman in a bed is wearing a nightgown and later appears in a bubble bath with a bare leg.
Alcohol Use
Alcohol use and drunkenness.
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs.
Miscellaneous Immorality
Man cheats at golf, two men start a rivalry, but they end up friends, mobster’s son kidnaps a woman, but the jeopardy is relatively light, and some jokes about the incongruities of celebrating Christmas in the warm desert resort town of Palm Springs, Calif., but the jokes are not malicious (for example, some Christmas carolers are dressed in typical Victorian dress but they’re wearing flip-flops as they entertain people enjoying a resort’s pool area).
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film celebrates living a full life during the golden years. What does Scripture say makes a life truly full and fruitful?
Psalm 92:12–15 · John 10:10The movie contrasts Leo’s interest in one woman with Duke’s pursuit of several women. What does faithfulness require in our relationships?
Exodus 20:14 · Hebrews 13:4Christmas songs about Jesus appear throughout the story. What do these songs proclaim about why Jesus came?
Luke 2:10–14 · Matthew 1:21Duke and Leo begin as rivals but eventually work together. What helps turn rivalry into friendship?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Proverbs 17:17The Final Word
Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones bring easy chemistry to an amiable Christmas comedy with a positive message about enjoying life in later years. But frequent profanity, sexual innuendo, hedonistic behavior, and alcohol use make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults who can handle those concerns, WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a family alternative, see.
