When you think of 1993's Grumpy Old Men, you probably picture Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau hurling insults at each other in the freezing Minnesota snow. It’s a classic setup. Two old guys, one fish, and a decades-long grudge. But honestly? The movie doesn’t work without the spark plug that is Ann-Margret in Grumpy Old Men.
She didn't just play "the girl next door." She played the woman who made two men remember they weren't dead yet.
Ariel Truax was a wild choice for a romantic lead in a mainstream 90s comedy. Most studios would have cast someone half her age to play against the septuagenarian leads. Instead, we got Ann-Margret. She was 52 at the time, still radiating that Viva Las Vegas energy but with a new, bohemian depth.
Why Ariel Truax Wasn't Your Typical Love Interest
Most people remember Ariel as the "attractive neighbor," but if you rewatch the film, she’s actually kind of a weirdo. In the best way possible. She moves into Wabasha, Minnesota, from California, and immediately starts disrupting the frozen status quo.
Ariel is a college professor. She’s an artist. She sculpts nude statues of her late husband. She guts her television to turn it into a fish tank. Basically, she’s the exact opposite of John Gustafson (Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Matthau), who have spent thirty years doing the exact same thing every single day.
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There's a specific scene where she runs outside in the snow wearing a bathing suit to make snow angels. It’s not just fan service. It’s a character statement. She represents the "risk" that John is terrified to take.
The Chemistry That Saved the Script
Let's be real: the plot of Grumpy Old Men is pretty thin. It’s a series of pranks and "moron" jokes. What gives the movie its heart is the genuine warmth Ann-Margret brings to her scenes with Jack Lemmon.
While Matthau’s Max is the aggressive pursuer, Lemmon’s John is the vulnerable one. The chemistry between Lemmon and Ann-Margret felt lived-in. In her autobiography, Ann-Margret: My Story, she actually talked about a snowmobile scene that almost went south. She was driving Lemmon on the back of a bike, hit an icy turn too fast, and careened into a steel dumpster. She was terrified she’d hurt him, but they just kept going. That kind of real-world trust translated to the screen.
She wasn't just a trophy for them to fight over. She was the "moral epicenter." She’s the one who eventually forces John to confront his own loneliness and his fear of "the end."
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The "Siren" vs. The Human
By 1993, Ann-Margret had been a star for over three decades. She’d already transitioned from the "sex kitten" image of the 60s to a serious, Oscar-nominated actress in films like Carnal Knowledge.
But Grumpy Old Men did something different. It introduced her to a whole new generation. It showed that a woman in her 50s could be vibrant, sexual, and intellectually superior to the men around her.
Some critics back then—and even now—argue that Ariel's character is a bit of a "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" for the AARP set. Maybe. But Ann-Margret plays her with enough grit that she feels like a person who has actually lived through some things. She’s a widow. She’s moved across the country to start over. She isn't there to "save" the guys; she’s there to live her life, and they just happen to be in her orbit.
Behind the Scenes: The "Boys"
Ann-Margret often referred to Lemmon and Matthau as "the boys." Despite their "grumpy" personas on screen, the vibe on set was reportedly one of deep mutual respect.
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In interviews, she’s mentioned how moving it was to watch the real-life bond between Lemmon and Matthau. They were constantly checking on each other. When you watch the trio together, you aren't seeing three actors hitting marks. You're seeing three legends of cinema who knew they were making something special—a "victory lap" film that actually had something to say about aging.
Why It Still Matters Today
Most comedies from the early 90s have aged like milk. The jokes are dated, and the pacing is off. But Grumpy Old Men—and specifically Ann-Margret’s performance—holds up.
Why? Because it treats aging with dignity, even when it's being silly. Ariel Truax is a reminder that "old" is a mindset. She rides snowmobiles, she loves deeply, and she refuses to let the cold Minnesota winters dampen her spirit.
If you’re looking to revisit this classic, don’t just watch it for the insults. Watch it for the way Ann-Margret shifts the energy of every room she walks into. She’s the reason the movie has a pulse.
Practical Steps for Fans of the Film
If you want to dive deeper into this era of Ann-Margret's career or the making of the film, here is what you should do:
- Read "Ann-Margret: My Story": Published right around the time the movie came out, it gives a lot of context to her transition into these types of roles and her experience working with "the boys."
- Watch the Sequel (with a grain of salt): Grumpier Old Men (1995) brings in Sophia Loren, which is fun, but many fans feel it "domesticates" Ariel’s character too much. It’s worth a watch to see the full arc, but the original is where her character truly shines as a disruptor.
- Check out "Carnal Knowledge": To see the dramatic range that allowed her to play Ariel with such nuance, watch her 1971 performance. It’s a total 180 from the "grumpy" world but proves she was always more than just a pretty face.
Ann-Margret didn't just play a part in a movie; she defined what it looked like to age with style and a bit of a rebellious streak. That’s why we’re still talking about Ariel Truax thirty years later.