Product Details

• Actors: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Dyan Cannon, Gloria DeHaven, Brent Spiner
• Directors: Martha Coolidge
• Writers: Robert Nelson Jacobs
• Producers: Barry M. Berg, David T. Friendly, Dylan Sellers, John Davis, Sarah Grossman
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English, Italian, Japanese, Spanish
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: May 26, 1998
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304698305
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,084 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, the big screen's original "odd couple," star in this riotously funny high-seas adventure. In search of lonely ladies with big bank accounts, happy-go-lucky Charlie (Matthau) cons his cranky, widower brother-in-law Herb (Lemmon) into joining him on an all-expenses-paid, luxury cruise. But their "deluxe accommodations" are deep in the bowels of the ship, and Charlie has signed them on as dance hosts! Under the tyranny of crooning cruise director Gil Godwyn (Brent Spiner), Charlie and Herb are in for rough weather as they romance the luscious Liz (Dyan Cannon) and the lovely Vivian (Gloria De Haven).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Greats Shine One Last Time, June 17, 2005

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Out to Sea (DVD)

You've got a number of stars in this comedy! Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon star as a pair of friends who go to sea as Gentlemen Escorts to find new romance. In essence they are free dance partners for the many single woman on board.

Jack promptly falls for Vivian (Gloria DeHaven) as a true romance, while Walter Matthau schemes to seduce a younger woman (Dyan Cannon) who appears wealthy and single. The ship is the Holland Westerdam, an actual luxury cruise ship. You get to see a lot of scenes on the ship - from the pool area, the restaurant, the ballroom and the deck.

I really loved the smaller parts played by Hal Linden and especially Brent Spiner. The "Data" from Star Trek really shines here as the commanding cruise director.

What makes the movie so special is that, in its release year of 1997, you had Lemmon being 71 years old, and Matthau being 77. The two men are still great actors. It gives you a great sense of how vibrant old age can be, if you keep your mind and body healthy. Sadly, both have since passed away, so this movie is a collector's item.

What was even more surprising to me is how young Dyan Cannon looks. I loved her in Deathtrap, and while I watched this movie I thought she was a great actress but way too young for the Matthau character. I kept thinking of him as a cradle robber. Actually, she was born in 1937 - so she was 50 in the movie! In comparison, Gloria was 72.

So in general, this was a cast with a lot of experience, that shows a great movie can be made without having to rely on teen starlets or the latest handsome face.

Highly recommended!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lemmon and Matthau make the best of a weak script, May 20, 2006

By 

Movie Mania "DVD Collector" (Southern Calfornia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Out to Sea (DVD)

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are considered one of the great film teams. Their partnership created 11 films (one film Walter starred in Jack directed and two films they both appeared in but were not the costars) over 32 years and created the one of the most beloved pairings, Oscar Madison and Felix Unger.

Out to Sea was the 10th film and it is a rehash of many of their other films (together and apart). Herb (Lemmon) is a widower. Charlie (Matthau) is his brother-in-law. Just as Oscar and Felix, Herb and Jack are opposites. Charlie has gotten into some trouble with loan sharks and needs to get away for a while. He decides to take a cruise and takes his brother in law along.

The thing that he doesn't tell him is the reason it is free is that they are to be dance hosts. And there is one strict rule that they are not to fraternize with the paying guests. But Charlie is planning to catch himself a rich widow. And on the airplane Herb meets a beautiful widow (Gloria DeHaven). But Charlie introduces Herb as his doctor. Herb runs into her, of course, on the boat and tries to keep up his cover.

Charlie stumbles into a state room and meets an heiress (Dyan Cannon) and her mother (Elaine Strich.) Of course Charlie goes after the daughter. And the cruise director (Brent Spiner) is trying to catch the boys.

There is a lot of deception going on but it is not just the boys. In the end the boys get the girls and we have a happy ending.

Jack and Walter are masters of their craft. And while this film is as creaky as they come, the cast make it work. Dyan Cannon gives one of her best performances (probably since her Oscar nominated work in Heaven Can Wait.) And it is great to see Gloria DeHaven back in front of the cameras - and looking fabulous! Donald O'Connor gets to show he still can dance as one of the host along with Hal Linden. Golden Girl Rue McClannahan also makes an appearance as the owner of the ship.

As I have said before a bad Lemmon Matthau film is better than most other films.

DVD EXTRAS: None

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining movie, April 10, 2004

By 

Ben hayden (grand rapids, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out to Sea (DVD)

So what if this movie is a rehash, what movie isn't a rehash of another. But what makes this film worth the while. Is the paring of Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. While the story is simple, they go on a crusie and pretend to be dance hosts and fall in love. But it is matthau and lemmon make this film shine. Along with some great supproting performances Brent Spiner, Donald O'Connor,Rue Mchlanahan, Dyan Cannon and Elaine Stritch delievers some the of the best lines in this film. This is worth the buy.