Nicolas Cage Transforms into an Intoxicated John Wick Lookalike: Retirement Plan Director Drops Epic Bombshell!

Summary

The Retirement Plan is an action-comedy featuring Nicolas Cage as a retired beach bum who must confront his dark past to help his daughter.

Taking cues from films like John Wick and The Equalizer, writer/director Tim Brown set out to give the action genre a comedic spin. In this endeavor, Cage's portrayal adds a touch of unpredictability and subtlety to the character, demonstrating his versatility as both an action hero and a comedian.

Writer/director Tim Brown, known for his action genre history, draws inspiration from films like John Wick and The Equalizer for Nicolas Cage's character in The Retirement Plan. This action-comedy revolves around Matt, a retired beach bum who unexpectedly has his granddaughter arrive with news that his estranged daughter and her husband are in trouble with local gangsters. Matt must confront his own dark past as he sets out to help them. The star-studded cast for The Retirement Plan includes Ashley Greene Khoury, Ron Perlman, Jackie Earle Haley, Thalia Campbell, Joel David Moore, Ernie Hudson, and Grace Byers, alongside Cage.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Brown discussed the concept behind the action-comedy and his experience working with Cage. He cited the John Wick franchise as a major source of inspiration, specifically mentioning his desire to see a drunk and older version of Keanu Reeves' assassin. Brown also praised Cage's performance, emphasizing his ability to elevate the character to new heights. Take a look at Brown's insights below:

The content: "It was funny, it came from the location, and then once I knew that location, I asked myself a question, "What if John Wick decided to finally retire and just become a drunk on the beach for 25 years? Would he still have his quickness? Would he still have his abilities?" I sort of posed myself that question, and then I sort of said, "Okay, well, let's put this person, this Matt character on the beach, and we'll take him at that point in life where no one knows who he is, and then we'll present this granddaughter to him with a MacGuffin, that all the bad guys try and come on the island to take." And, of course, as per all the films through action history, one guy comes, then two guys come, and five guys come, and he's got to keep defeating more and more until he takes out the army. So, it's like a poor-man's Equalizer, if you will. But, you know, I think that's really, in essence, where it came from, I started with the location, and because I knew my partner was working on financing some films in the Cayman Islands, and I said, "I have an idea, it's a loose idea." Then, I hammered out maybe 60, or 70, sh---y pages, and then slowly, through time, just kept rewriting and figuring it out, and ended up with the story that I had, and tried to keep it a little bit unconventional in the action genre. I'm a big fan of action comedy, and the idea of keeping it sort of unpredictable, really not following the formula, but in a way, making fun of the formula. There are times when I directly make fun of action-genre films, I'm sure you might have picked up on some of the ones, but I think it's good to keep it light. And it was COVID, so I thought, "Boy, let's keep this light." I think that, subconsciously, maybe COVID came into play a little bit to keep my tone, again, light. I mentioned, certainly, to Greg [Longstreet], I'm a huge Shane Black fan, The Nice Guys, I'm a huge fan of that movie. In some ways, it's really silly, it's like a silly film that's still a serious action picture. When he says, you know, "Throw me the gun," and he throws it up, he throws it out the window. I thought that's what I want, to capture that essence, where something unpredictable happens, where in every action movie, the hero is supposed to catch the gun. "Well, what if I just throw it out the window?" That's true, that's great, because it's, for me, unexpected. That's what I tried to capture as best I could and, and having someone like Nic Cage in the lead role gave me that unpredictability in spades. He brought so much nuance to the character that I didn't anticipate certainly on the page, and then when he says it, and has a certain facial expression, or does a certain thing that just takes it to a higher level, which is why he's Nic Cage, and I'm me."

Result: "The idea originated from the location and sparked a question in my mind: what if John Wick, after retiring, became a beach-dwelling drunk for 25 years? Would he still possess his quickness and abilities? This thought led me to create the character Matt, situated at a point in life where his identity is unknown, and introducing a granddaughter who becomes the center of attention for the bad guys due to a valuable MacGuffin. As the story progresses, numerous adversaries appear, following the pattern seen in action movies, until Matt confronts an entire army. It's a kind of rough version of 'Equalizer.' My initial inspiration came from the location, as my partner was involved in financing films in the Cayman Islands. After compiling around 60 or 70 rough pages, I gradually refined and reworked the story, aiming to bring an unconventional touch to the action genre. Being a fan of action comedy, I intended to add a sense of unpredictability to the narrative and, in a way, make fun of the typical formula. There are moments where I directly satirize action-genre films, as you may have noticed. I believe it's essential to maintain a light tone, especially considering the context of the COVID pandemic. Perhaps subconsciously, the pandemic influenced my desire to keep things light. I expressed my admiration for Shane Black's film, 'The Nice Guys,' to Greg [Longstreet]. It's a silly yet serious action picture. I wanted to capture a similar essence in my work, where unpredictable things happen. For instance, when a hero in most action movies is expected to catch a gun, what if they throw it out the window instead? That unexpected element fascinated me. Having someone like Nic Cage in the lead role added a level of unpredictability that exceeded my expectations. His portrayal brought immense nuance to the character, showcasing why he is the renowned Nic Cage while I remain myself."

Editor's Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes and acknowledges that the movie discussed would not have been possible without the efforts of the writers and actors in both unions.

The Retirement Plan Is A Perfect Genre Blend For Cage

Throughout his career spanning over 40 years, Cage has showcased his talent in a wide range of film genres. However, his action films have particularly resonated with audiences, including notable titles such as The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, the Gone in 60 Seconds remake, and the National Treasure franchise. Due to creative differences with studio executives and the need to settle financial debts, Cage shifted his focus to independently produced projects, some of which garnered poor reviews, while others, such as the surreal action-horror film Mandy and the drama Pig, contributed to his recent resurgence.

One often overlooked aspect of Cage's extensive filmography is his proficiency in comedy. Long before gaining recognition for his eccentric and dramatic roles, the Academy Award-winning actor made his mark in comedies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, where he made a memorable cameo under his birth name Nicolas Coppola, and the Romeo & Juliet-inspired Valley Girl. Even as he ventured into other genres, Cage continued to excel in comedy, earning acclaim for his performances in films such as Raising Arizona, Adaptation., and most recently, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, in which he portrayed a fictionalized version of himself.

The Retirement Plan is a genre-blender that showcases Cage's wide range of abilities. Similar to the National Treasure series, this upcoming movie not only highlights his comedic timing but also showcases the qualities that made him an action star. Furthermore, with the incorporation of elements from John Wick and Equalizer, The Retirement Plan has the potential to introduce a captivating character that viewers would eagerly anticipate seeing more of in future installments.