Tough Guys (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film is set primarily in the United States during the mid-1980s, with scenes spanning various locations including a retirement community, a bank, an ice cream parlor, a trendy disco nightclub, and a railway yard. The story concludes at a border crossing into Mexico, depicting a slice of urban and suburban American life where old-school criminal loyalties collide with modern society.

• setting
• locations
• united states
• mexico
• 1980s

The movie takes place in the mid-1980s, a period characterized by rapid modernization, new wave music, unisex gyms, and shifting social norms. This era contrasts sharply with the 1950s world the protagonists knew during their criminal heyday, forcing them to navigate a society that has fundamentally changed during their imprisonment.

• time period
• 1980s
• era
• setting

The two central figures are Harry Doyle, a 72-year-old ex-gangster who longs to keep working and stay connected to his criminal past, and Archie Long, a 67-year-old ex-criminal who adapts to the changing world with mixed success. Supporting characters include parole officer Richie Evans, the persistent officer Deke Yablonski, elderly hitman Leon B. Little, Harry's old flame Belle, and young restaurant manager Skye who introduces Archie to 1980s modernity.

• characters
• harry doyle
• archie long
• cast

The film explores three interconnected themes: aging and change as two aging criminals confront a world that has moved on since their heyday; loyalty and friendship through the lifelong bond between Harry and Archie that guides their decisions; and morality and crime, examining whether criminals can honor a moral code in a modern era. The climactic train heist tests their creed against the consequences of their actions.

• themes
• aging
• loyalty
• morality
• crime

The film portrays two aging criminals whose bodies and routines are challenged by retirement rules and modern amenities. Harry particularly struggles to reconcile his storied criminal identity with retirement-age reality, insisting on staying active rather than accepting obsolescence. The story examines whether these men can adapt to a world that has moved on or must abandon their old identities entirely.

• aging
• retirement
• obsolescence
• identity

Harry and Archie share a lifelong bond that anchors them through decades of crime and prison. Their friendship guides decisions, provides support under pressure, and endures even as romantic entanglements and law enforcement tighten around them. This deep loyalty forms the emotional core of the film, with both men willing to make significant sacrifices for each other.

• friendship
• loyalty
• harry
• archie
• relationship

Leon B. Little is an elderly hitman with failing eyesight who carries a long-standing contract to kill Harry and Archie. Despite his poor vision and advanced age, he remains driven by money and a lingering grudge, reappearing decades later to complete his assignment. His presence adds constant threat and a sense of inevitable danger to the narrative.

• leon b little
• hitman
• antagonist
• threat

Skye is a young restaurant manager who embodies 1980s modernity and serves as a contrast to the aging protagonists. She introduces Archie to new fashion and nightclub culture, sparking a brief affair that challenges his sense of masculinity. Her presence represents how youth and changing gender dynamics reshape relationships, accelerating Archie's adaptation to the era.

• skye
• youth
• modernity
• romance
• 1980s

The film probes whether criminals can honor a moral line in a modern era. Harry and Archie insist they never killed anyone and argue their crimes fit a code rather than malice. However, the story examines this claim critically, testing their creed against the consequences of their actions during the climactic train heist and revealing the cost of maintaining old loyalties when new rules apply.

• morality
• crime code
• ethics
• consequences

The mid-1980s setting creates constant friction between the protagonists and modern society. The era's fashion, technology, and social norms would have been unimaginable to men who peaked in the 1950s. Unisex gyms, new wave music, and assertive attitudes shape how Harry and Archie navigate their parole and plans, highlighting their obsolescence while forcing them to either adapt or be left behind.

• 1980s
• modernization
• cultural change
• adaptation