© 2026 The Couch Critic
The Grumpy Old Men collection (1993–1995) follows the escalating, comical feud between lifelong Minnesota neighbors and fishing buddies John Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau). As they vie for the affections of a new neighbor, Ariel (Ann-Margret), and later battle a restaurant owner (Sophia Loren), they find friendship, romance, and lasting reconciliation.
For decades, next-door neighbors and former friends John and Max have feuded, trading insults and wicked pranks. When an attractive widow moves in nearby, their bad blood erupts into a high-stakes rivalry full of naughty jokes and adolescent hijinks.
A family wedding reignites the ancient feud between next-door neighbors and fishing buddies John and Max. Meanwhile, a sultry Italian divorcée opens a restaurant at the local bait shop, alarming the locals who worry she'll scare the fish away. But she's less interested in seafood than she is in cooking up a hot time with Max.