Movie Review: “Wild Oats” Is Pure, Unadulterated Fun

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Everything changes for Eva when she receives a life insurance check accidentally made out for $5,000,000 instead of the expected $50.000. She and her best friend take the money and head out for the adventure of a lifetime.

“Wild Oats” is nothing more than two screen legends teaming up together for a lighthearted and whimsical movie that is, at times, both touching and hysterical. Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange play Eva and Maddie, respectively, two lifelong friends who have always played by the rules. When Eva’s husband passes away and the life insurance company inadvertently sends her a check for $5,000,000, instead of $50,000, both ladies must make a decision: call the insurance company to let them know about their discrepancy, or deposit it, and if they’re caught, claim that they were confused in their old age. When Maddie informs Eva that her husband has left her for his twenty-something secretary, they decide to throw caution to the wind and deposit the check. With the money sitting in Eva’s account, Maddie coaxes Eva into flying somewhere exotic so they can spoil themselves, something they haven’t done in many years.

They reach the sunny destination of Gran Canaria in the Spanish Canary Islands and no sooner have they settled into the Presidential Suite, pampering themselves and overindulging in clothes, food and drink, they meet a mysterious, Scottish businessman (Billy Connolly), who takes an immediate liking to Eva. As the two hit it off, Maddie meets a much younger and sexier guy, Chip (Jay Hayden) in a hilarious scene straight out of “The Graduate.”

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., the insurance company have realized their mistake and send their oldest, on-the-verge-of-retirement agent, Vespucci (Howard Hesseman), to check out Eva’s house. While there, he meets Eva’s daughter Crystal (Demi Moore), and informs her of her mother’s antics where naturally she doesn’t believe him but in no time, she joins him as they both head off to Gran Canaria. Eva and Maddie quickly ascertain that they were scammed by Billy Connolly’s character, who just happens to work for the local wine baron Carlos (Santiago Segura) and just as Crystal and Vespucci arrive, the two gals must make their way to Carlos’ residence and retrieve their stolen money, before being arrested by Vespucci.

The movie takes an interesting look into the aging process we all must go through but especially from a woman’s perspective. Ms. Lange, even at a sprightly 67, puts most of today’s young Hollywood starlets to shame, exuding a sexual appeal and allure most women could only dream of. Ms. MacLaine, herself a knockout in her youth, plays her role more for dramatic effect but when both actors are onscreen together, there is no denying their sheer star power, giving their male counterparts, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, a run for their money. Howard Hesseman and Matt Walsh seem to be having fun in their roles but sadly, Demi Moore is criminally underused. An actress who is known more as the former Mrs. Ashton Kutcher, she is more than capable of holding her own against any Hollywood actor alive, as substantiated by a myriad of wonderful performances, from “A Few Good Men,” to “The Seventh Sign,” and the rarely seen but superbly acted, “Wisdom.”

“Wild Oats” never takes itself too seriously, despite entertaining some meditative subject matters such as death, cancer, and infidelity. Its overall tone is upbeat and high-spirited and when the occasional inexorable theme arises, it is swiftly dealt with and we’re back to a superabundance of humor and buoyancy, including one hilarious scene of intimacy between Ms. Lange and her much younger beau. If you want to see two seasoned Hollywood pros at work, watch “Wild Oats,” it is both hilarious and winsome.

Available On DVD, Digital HD & VOD October 4th