The Retirement Plan: reviews

What the critics say average 5.2 from 19 outlets

• 8.0 NYC Movie GuruAvi Offer Nicolas Cage is in top form. This is the kind of role he excels at, and it shows from start to finish (...) At a running time of 1 hour and 43 minutes, The Retirement Plan is a funny, exhilarating and crowd-pleasing action comedy. Read
• 7.5 Original-CinLiz Braun Canadian writer-director Tim Brown captures a heady mix of action, bloodshed and comedy here, hitting all the high notes of a crime thriller even as he appears to be spoofing the genre — and who better to do that with than Cage, the meta master himself? Read
• 6.5 Film ThreatAlan Ng With The Retirement Plan, we are not exactly changing the world. We’re buying the popcorn and going along for a very wild adventure. It’s a bit of a departure from what we expect from Nic Cage, but fun nonetheless. Read
• 6.3 Reel Film ReviewsDavid Nusair It’s clear almost immediately that The Retirement Plan isn’t looking to reinvent the wheel in any way, shape, or form, as filmmaker Brown has infused the proceedings with a run-of-the-mill (and palpably low-rent) feel that persists from beginning to end – with the movie’s mild success, then, due almost entirely to its agreeable atmosphere and proliferation of fun, entertaining performances. Read
• 6.0 ClarinPablo O. Scholz As an action comedy, 'The Retirement Plan' has more action than comedy. (...) So 'The Retirement Plan' can be enjoyable if what you're after is an action-packed killing spree, but with truly bad dialogue. It isn't clear whether that's on purpose or not. Read
• 6.0 Radio TimesSteve Morrissey This gonzo action comedy from writer/director Tim Brown plays like a homage to the early films of Guy Ritchie. (...) Grey of hair, white of beard and dressed in a series of loud Hawaiian shirts, Cage looks lean and fit, and is on great over-the-top form. (...) The jokes are frequent and funny, but they peter out a bit as Brown heads for the finish-line with a determinedly straight face. Read
• 6.0 Susan GrangerSusan Granger Apparently, Cage was intrigued with playing an older character like the granddad and Brown continuously urged him to improvise on the family theme. (...) On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Retirement Plan” is an escapist 6 (...) Read
• 6.0 Screen ZealotsLouisa Moore “The Retirement Plan” is a throwaway action movie that’s also highly entertaining. The production values are poor, the story is uncomplicated, and the supporting cast is weak. But if you go expecting the bare minimum, you’ll be delightfully surprised at how enjoyable writer/director Tim Brown’s movie actually is. Read
• 6.0 Richard CrouseRichard Crouse He’s letting his freak flag fly, having fun, and it shows. “The Retirement Plan” isn’t a great movie, even by the standards of Cage’s choppy resume, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you. Read
• 5.8 Dennis Schwartz Movie ReviewsDennis Schwartz Tim J. Brown (“Treasure Hounds”/”Buckley’s Chance”) sloppily directs and writes this goofy hitman comedy-action-crime pic. (...) With only a few funny moments and terrible acting from the supporting cast, the escapist film can’t escape from itself. Read
• 5.0 Página/12Ezequiel Boetti The plot turns flimsy whenever it tries to go beyond its escapades, and it caps that off with a string of betrayals in the finale whose spirit is far too serious for what the film called for.
• 5.0 Blu-ray.comBrian Orndorf Writer/director Tim Brown has a film in mind with The Retirement Plan, only his execution is too knotted to sustain a fun factor. Read
• 4.0 The GuardianCath Clarke The funny thing is, in his performance as a former government hitman, Cage dials it down nicely, keeping his freaky at a gentle 6 out 10. The film cruises along on his charm; it’s otherwise a totally disposable but mostly entertaining action comedy drama with a really stupid plot and a few good laughs. Read
• 4.0 La NaciónMarcelo Stiletano 'The Retirement Plan' pays dearly for its hybrid nature when it had almost everything within reach to make a difference and stand out from so many films on the same subject, usually rushed out without much commitment. When it tries to be funny, everything looks too serious, and whenever the plot falls back on the usual thriller formulas, it all comes across as incongruous and at times even ridiculous (...) Read
• 4.0 CinemalogueTodd Jorgenson Nicolas Cage’s charisma can’t save this otherwise formulaic crime thriller that’s also a predictable story of reconciliation and fractured family dynamics. (...) But at least it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Read
• 4.0 Common Sense MediaJeffrey M. Anderson This Elmore Leonard-like action/crime caper is likable enough, thanks to its terrific cast and colorful characters, but after a while it starts to seem a little listless, lacking a certain snap. Read
• 3.0 Culture MixCarla Hay “The Retirement Plan” isn’t nearly as funny as it’s hyped up to be. Nicolas Cage portrays a world-weary ex-government assassin caught up in a hunt for a flash drive. He looks bored for at least half of this predictable action flick. Viewers will be bored too. Read
• 3.0 Film StoriesLauren Miles Often the film’s story is generic and repetitive. That’s something that could be forgiven if the performances were big and the action exciting. Ultimately, though, The Retirement Plan feels like it wastes the talent involved. Read
• 2.0 FilmHoundsKatie Hogan The overall plot is frustrating with too many pointless characters clogging up the screen. (...) The Retirement Plan is filled with cliches, predictable dialogue even the fight scenes are unimaginative. Read