From afar, “Last Vegas” seemed like nothing special, looking essentially like the aging actor’s version of “The Hangover.” Yet after watching it, I’m happy to report that “Last Vegas” transcends that definition and is actually an entertaining comedy with some great heart. It is a sentimental story of both friendship and ceases to gloss over the real issue of growing old. “Last Vegas” gives a stage to four heavyweight actors and helps them shine in the sun of Sin City.

“Last Vegas” features a quartet of friends that as kids were the best of friends. It isn’t until the movie fast-forwards 58 years that it becomes apparent that the four have slowly grown apart, staying in touch sparingly. When the last of the four friends announces he is getting married, it brings the four together to party one last time in Vegas. An old argument, however, threatens their lasting friendship and puts the wedding at risk.

The plot alone seemed like nothing special, yet the story comes to life thanks in large part to the incredible actors headlining the film. Director Jon Turteltaub manages Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Morgan Freeman amazingly well, creating some truly special chemistry between them. Turteltaub mixes slapstick humor in a heartfelt, and admittedly, adorable story. Perhaps Turteltaub’s greatest achievement, however, is not letting the Vegas debauchery take the film over. There are elements of it in the movie, yet “Last Vegas” is not defined by the unoriginal and mundane world often depicted in movies filmed in Las Vegas.

As far as the writing, the main actors are written well for the most part. Their sheer star power elevates the writing far above what it truly is, helping deliver moments of great humor and genuine, candid heart. There are, however, far too many forced jokes poking fun at the actor’s age. After a while, these jokes become wholly unoriginal and largely ill advised. There is also, an unnecessary amount of both profanity and sexually explicit led jokes that detract from the tone of the movie. Last but not least, the emotional baggage carried by the characters is too forced, compromising character development for the sake of saving time. In one scene specifically, it becomes so forced, it is hard to look at the screen, seriously taking the audience out of the moment.

The actors however, did the best with what they had to work with, all of them each seeming to have great fun in their respective roles. They each absorb into their roles, almost forgetting they are being filmed. The chemistry between all four of them is splendid, blending laughter and emotion together in a satisfying fashion.

Aesthetically, the movie is far from special, yet still holds up. The film doesn’t capture Vegas in ways that make it seem as grand as it really is. Yet, in defense, it was probably for the better, helping the movie free itself from the normal definition of a Vegas filmed movie. A highlight of “Last Vegas”, however, is its superb editing, capturing the emotion in each scene, never letting one scene carry on longer than it should.

In the end, “Last Vegas” is a heartfelt comedy that also provides commentary on what happens when we grow old. The combination of Douglas, De Niro, Freeman, and Kline create a story of friendship, forgiveness, and the reminder to always laugh. “Last Vegas” is nothing special, and probably not deserving of a trip to the theatre, yet it still provides a heartwarming story that makes you laugh and wonder about growing old, all at the same time.