I know a thing or two about weightlifing, being an avid weightlifter myself, but I was unsure of the plausibilty of the scene where Tommy Lee Jones benchpresses 225 pounds with the help of Garner. It's hard enough for a middle-aged man to lift that much weight, let alone someone who is over 60. In addition, it is very difficult to shrug heavy weight like Garner did, who at his age would have tremendous difficulty especially with double plates.
shareI'm just watching this for first time. My initial problem with the scene is it was obvious Garner was helping Jones lift, not just spotting him, but the black guy seemed genuinely impressed, like he didn't see what they were really doing? Did you get that impression?
sharebut the black guy seemed genuinely impressed, like he didn't see what they were really doing?
I'm just watching this for first time. My initial problem with the scene is it was obvious Garner was helping Jones lift, not just spotting him, but the black guy seemed genuinely impressed, like he didn't see what they were really doing? Did you get that impression?
I don't particularly care...I think it's a hilarious scene. Sometimes you have to do that in movies. Make OBVIOUS mistakes, but it was still funny. I figured older men, like Tommy Lee and Jim, couldn't do it...but I still found it funny and when I watch it, the plausiblity is the last thing going through my mind.
Missy
But I could have told you, River, this world was never meant for one as beauiful as you...
I agree though, it was a hilarious scene. Just goes to show how Jones is versatile enough to act in both comedic and serious roles.
share[deleted]
I bet you Clint Eastwood could bench 225 at his current age.
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I bet you Clint Eastwood could bench 225 at his current age.
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Coincidentally, 225 IS his current age.
Actually if you pay attention, you can see that Tank is about to pass out from "helping" Hawk. He's about to give himself a stroke from all the effort he's putting out and I think we're supposed to realize that Tank is in fact doing the majority of the work. I still don't know how he didn't break anything doing it, but it's hysterical and an excellent use of James Garner's comic skills.
shareI thought it was just an average-to-good joke directed to those that know nothing about bodybuilding. Hollywood is full of stuff like that: references to stuff that, if you know a bit about it, you know they are grossly oversimplifying. For instance, every time (in every movie) an actor plays chess, it sickens me that they always have to repeat the same cliches that never happen in real life (playing with awful pieces instead of "normal" sets, announcing checks, playing until checkmate then lying the king, etc.). In this scene that's what happens: if you know about bodybuilding, you know that he wouldn't be able to bench press that much, that the spotter, with that awful shrug, wouldn't have helped much, and that it should have been obvious for everybody what they were doing to cheat.
Good movie, though. Each time they show it on TNT, I'm just not able to switch channels. :)
Christian
If the actors can do the scene, I guess it's plausible by definition. Unless you think they used fake plates.
shareI'm 47 and can bench press 280...at a body weight of 165. I really hope I can bench 225 when I'm in my 60's...!!
share1. it's a movie
2. I love how people write off old people like there useless there not
3. Again it's a movie
Still funny scene. "You the man!"