The Retirement Plan (2023)

The Retirement Plan is the kind of breezy, sun-soaked crime caper that remembers movies can be mischievous fun—then suddenly snaps into action with enough punch to keep you leaning forward. Nicolas Cage plays the “retired” beach-bum dad with that irresistible Cage alchemy: laid-back charm, oddball humor, and a simmering sense that there’s more under the flip-flops than anyone’s admitting. The Cayman Islands vibe gives the whole thing a playful vacation sheen even as bullets fly and the comedy turns delightfully cheeky, anchored by a cast that commits to the ride. It’s not for viewers craving airtight plotting or realism, but if you want an entertaining, slightly cheesy action-comedy with a confident star at the wheel, this one goes down easy.

The Retirement Plan wants to be a breezy, sun-soaked action-comedy about a deadbeat dad with a secret skillset getting dragged back into chaos, and on paper that’s a fun pitch. In practice, the story lurches through predictable twists and a surprisingly convoluted crime setup, with direction and dialogue that often feel flat and a bit bargain-bin. The cast does what it can and there are a few easygoing, vacation-movie moments, but it frequently plays like a “paycheck” project rather than a sharp, confident crowd-pleaser. If you’re looking for tight action, clever banter, or a crime plot that actually clicks, this one will likely test your patience; if you just want low-stakes background entertainment with familiar faces, you might get by.