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The Ref (1994)
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Reviews Counted:39
Fresh:31
Rotten:8
Average Rating:6.6/10
Consensus: Undeniably uneven and too dark for some, The Ref nonetheless boasts strong turns from Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey, as well as a sharply funny script.
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Gus is a pretty clever cat burglar, but he's having a really bad Christmas Eve. He just stole precious gems from a wealthy amusement park owner. But his plan to escape has gone awry. So he ducks... Gus is a pretty clever cat burglar, but he's having a really bad Christmas Eve. He just stole precious gems from a wealthy amusement park owner. But his plan to escape has gone awry. So he ducks into Lloyd and Caroline's house only to find himself caught in the middle of a marriage from hell. Lloyd and Caroline are possibly the most dysfunctional pair in the world. To make matters worse, the unhappy twosome are expecting their in-laws for dinner. Once the guests arrive, Gus -- who has already taken their son hostage -- makes Lloyd and Caroline agree to pretend he's their marriage counselor. [More]
Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey, Glynis Johns
Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey, Glynis Johns, Robert J. Steinmiller
Director: Ted Demme
Director: Ted Demme
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Release:
Mar 4, 2003
Reviews for The Ref
What makes most of this work is the brio of the acting, though the direction by Ted Demme and the script by Richard LaGravenese and Marie Weiss certainly don't hurt.
In his first starring role, comedian Leary makes his ranting career criminal strangely sympathetic.
[Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey] play this strident high comedy duet with a self-sustaining brio that easily puts them on the level of the stars of Twentieth Century, The Awful Truth, The Philadelphia Story, and His Girl Friday.
Dennis Leary's shining hour. His stand-up persona's greatest moment and it was all down hill from there.
Just because The Ref isn't your typical Christmas movie doesn't mean you should skip it. In fact, it should be just the opposite.
Better in hindsight than it first appeared. Leary truly rises to the challenge of acting opposite Davis and Spacey.
This is a smart witty film- Leary is fantastic, Spacey a blast and Davis brilliant!
...[The Ref is] the sort of movie that improves on repeated viewings.
Staying clear of any mean-spirited attitudes, The Ref is a film to warm the hearts and touch the nerves of dysfunctional families everywhere.
Latest News for The Ref
December 18, 2006:
RT's Top Yuletide Comedies -- Christmas Countdown, Day One
Welcome to RT's Five Days of Christmas Countdown, where we serve up a different list each day of the best holiday flicks around. Today, feast your eyes on the Top Christmas... More...
July 13, 2005:
Trailer Bulletin: Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
If you remember the goofy ol' teaser for "Ice Age," then you'll probably get a kick out of the all-new trailer for "Ice Age 2: The Meltdown." Yes, it's more... More...
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