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Action comedy

Just Getting Started (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Just Getting Started (2017) movie poster

Just Getting Started is a 2017 action comedy directed by Ron Shelton, starring Morgan Freeman as Duke, Tommy Lee Jones and Jane Seymour. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $7.6 million worldwide on a $22 million budget. Critics gave it 5% on Rotten Tomatoes and 21 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.6/10.

IMDb rating
4.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
5%
worldwide gross
$7.6M
Echo Score
28
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Just Getting Started (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Ron Shelton
Genres
Action , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$22M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Just Getting Started About?

The premise of Just Getting Started without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

This energetic comedy follows Duke Diver, a charming resort manager at the luxurious Villa Capri in Palm Springs, portrayed by Morgan Freeman. His relaxed world is disrupted by the arrival of Leo, an ex-military man played by Tommy Lee Jones, who challenges Duke’s position and pursues the same romantic interests. As Duke’s past resurfaces, threatening the resort, he and Leo must overcome their rivalry and team up to confront a dangerous situation and protect Villa Capri.

Just Getting Started Themes & Keywords

· 44 tags
  • christmas
  • new jersey
  • snow
  • written by director
  • palm springs california
  • champagne
  • quoting shakespeare's romeo and juliet
  • reference to caravaggio
  • bubble bath
  • live nativity
  • reference to robert service
  • quoting poetry
+32 more
  • reference to mark twain
  • golf
  • rivalry
  • rattlesnake
  • christmas tree lighting
  • dressing up as santa claus
  • reference to johnny mathis
  • christmas carolling
  • getting fired
  • tango dancing
  • tai chi
  • landscape painting
  • reference to bob hope
  • coyote
  • reference to paul cezanne
  • reference to ernst ludwig kirchner
  • reference to friedensreich hundertwasser
  • chess
  • ping pong
  • bench press
  • reference to beyonce
  • bomb
  • golf cart
  • shooting at a car
  • new year's eve
  • valet parking
  • animal farm
  • tow truck
  • tow truck driver
  • reference to dr. phil mcgraw
  • ends with a freeze frame
  • title spoken by character
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Cast & crew

Just Getting Started Cast & Characters

Morgan Freeman leads the cast as Duke, with Tommy Lee Jones as Leo and Jane Seymour as Delilah. Directed by Ron Shelton; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ron Shelton

More films directed by Ron Shelton, best-rated first: Bull Durham, Cobb, Blaze and Tin Cup.

Full filmography
Ratings

Just Getting Started Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Just Getting Started 5% on Rotten Tomatoes and 21 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 28/100, strongest in character & emotion (45) and weakest in rewatch factor (10).

28 /100

Just Getting Started Echo Score Breakdown

In general, Just Getting Started is hampered by its uneven execution and weak comedic writing. Both critics and viewers note that the jokes frequently fall flat and that scenes can feel both overstuffed and insubstantial. While a few glimpses of star charisma offer brief enjoyment, they are not enough to overcome frequent pacing issues and a lack of narrative cohesion. Overall, the film delivers a largely underwhelming comedic experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 30

    In terms of art and craft, the direction and structural execution of Just Getting Started are uneven. Reviews highlight scenes that creak and stumble, suggesting misjudged editing rhythms, while the narrative shifts feel both rushed and underdeveloped. There is little mention of distinctive production design or cinematographic innovation, leaving the visual presentation functional but unremarkable. Consequently, the film’s overall craftsmanship fails to elevate its material.

  • Character & Emotion 45

    In terms of character and emotion, the performances by the leading actors provide intermittent interest but lack sustained depth. Morgan Freeman’s relaxed playboy persona and Tommy Lee Jones’s deadpan delivery were frequently cited as the film’s best assets, yet users and critics agree that most characters remain underwritten, with dialogue that seldom evokes genuine feeling. As a result, emotional engagement is sporadic and the ensemble chemistry feels uneven.

  • Story & Flow 15

    In terms of story and flow, the film suffers from a script that is both overstuffed in places and threadbare in others. Multiple reviews remark that jokes misfire and the narrative alternates between rushed competitions and limp romantic interludes, undermining coherence. The pacing is broadly described as slow and uneven, eroding engagement throughout the runtime. Ultimately, the plot fails to sustain viewer interest.

  • Sensory Experience 40

    In terms of sensory experience, sound design receives occasional praise for clarity, though the sporadic absence of a supporting score undermines tonal consistency. Visual elements are serviceable with straightforward framing and lighting but lack an impactful stylistic identity. There are no mentions of standout musical themes or memorable visual flourishes, leaving the audiovisual dimension competent yet unremarkable. The overall sensory impact feels flat.

  • Rewatch Factor 10

    In terms of rewatch factor, audience feedback indicates minimal incentive for multiple viewings. Viewers report that without compelling humor or a cohesive narrative, little new detail emerges on repeat watches. Although a handful of comedic moments and performances by Freeman and Jones offer brief amusement, they are insufficient to overcome the film’s broader shortcomings. Consequently, the likelihood of revisiting this title remains low.

Plot

Just Getting Started Plot Summary

What happens in Just Getting Started from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Defense attorney Duke Diver, who once defended the leaders of the world’s deadliest criminal organizations, now finds himself managing the luxurious resort Villa Capri located in the picturesque Palm Springs, California. Enter Leo, a former FBI agent who quickly makes his presence felt by taking Duke’s parking spot, signaling the start of an unexpected rivalry.

The plot thickens when a furious New Jersey resident, Delilah, catches sight of an advertisement showcasing Villa Capri and the images of a man named William Dupree—a man she blames for her husband’s imprisonment due to his lackluster defense. Feeling vengeful, she contacts her son to convey her desire for “a gift” this Christmas—namely, the head of Dupree, who, unbeknownst to her, is actually Duke.

Full summary

The whole story of Just Getting Started, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Just Getting Started Box Office & Budget

Just Getting Started grossed $7.6 million worldwide on a $22 million budget, 35% of what it cost. $6.1 million came from the US and Canada and $1.6 million (20%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$7.6M

35% of its budget back

US & Canada
$6.1M
International
$1.6M
Budget
$22M
US & Canada 80% Rest of the world 20%
Videos

Just Getting Started Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Just Getting Started.

Just Getting Started Official Trailer (2017) - Broad Green Pictures
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Just Getting Started?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of Duke Diver in the movie?

Cars

Cars in Just Getting Started

24 cars on screen, including the American Custom Hummer H3 and the 2016 Cadillac XTS.

All 24 cars
  • American Custom Hummer H3 in Just Getting Started American Custom Hummer H3 Important role
  • 2016 Cadillac XTS in Just Getting Started 2016 Cadillac XTS Important role
  • 2003 Chevrolet Express in Just Getting Started 2003 Chevrolet Express Important role
  • 1998 Dodge Ram Van in Just Getting Started 1998 Dodge Ram Van Important role
Details

Just Getting Started Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Villa Capri” and “Всё только начинается”.

Also known as
  • Villa Capri
  • Всё только начинается
  • 저스트 게팅 스타티드
  • Entre Rivais
  • Apenas o Começo
  • Esto Recién Comienza
  • È solo l'inizio
  • Esto recien comienza
  • Das ist erst der Anfang!
  • Daha Yeni Başladıq
  • Daha Yeni Başladık
  • Все тільки починається
+15 more
  • 夕阳特工
  • To dopiero początek
  • Просто започни
  • Ово је само почетак
  • 저스트 겟팅 스타티드
  • Viss tikai sākās
  • Tek počinjemo
  • Bienvenidos a Villa Capri
  • 對頭冤家
  • Das ist erst der Anfang! Mission Ruhestand
  • מתחילים מחדש
  • Csak most kezdődik
  • ベスト・バディ
  • Benvinguts a Vil·la Capri
  • Viskas tik prasideda

Seen Just Getting Started?

FAQ

Just Getting Started FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Just Getting Started, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Just Getting Started?

Just Getting Started runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was Just Getting Started released?

Just Getting Started was released on December 8, 2017.

Who directed Just Getting Started?

Just Getting Started was directed by Ron Shelton.

More films by Ron Shelton

Who is in the cast of Just Getting Started?

Just Getting Started stars Morgan Freeman as Duke, Tommy Lee Jones as Leo and Jane Seymour as Delilah, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Just Getting Started make at the box office?

Just Getting Started grossed $7.6 million worldwide ($6.1 million domestic, $1.6 million international) on a budget of $22 million.

How is Just Getting Started rated?

Just Getting Started has 4.6/10 on IMDb, 5% on Rotten Tomatoes, 21 on Metacritic and 49% on TMDB.

Does Just Getting Started have a post-credit scene?

No. Just Getting Started has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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