The line-up of stars is mouthwatering (Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick, plus director Sidney Lumet), but this comedy drama is something of a disappointment. Connery plays an irascible old-school thief and Hoffman is his bitter son who is now desperately trying to go straight. However, he is reluctantly drawn back into a life of crime when he learns that his own son (Broderick) is about to go to work with grandpa in the family business. The scenes between the leads are superb, but all three are poorly served by an ill-focused script and surprisingly sluggish direction from the usually reliable Lumet.

Jessie is an aging career criminal who has been in more jails, fights, schemes, and lineups than just about anyone else. His son Vito, while currently on the straight and narrow, has had a fairly shady past and is indeed no stranger to illegal activity. They both have great hope for Adam, Vito's son and Jessie's grandson, who is bright, good-looking, and without a criminal past.