Reindeer Games (2000)

IT'S SO BAD, IT'S FUNNY...
One thing is to suspend belief, another is to suspend one's intelligence, which is what this movie requires. This movie is so bad, it is actually funny, at times. Replete with a bad script and bad acting, it revolves around a convoluted plot that has so many twists and turns, as to simply not be believable. The casting is bad, as well. Ben Affleck as a hardened convict? Come on...give me a break! He is simply not a good enough actor to play against type, charming though he be.

Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck), a professional car thief who has just spent six years in the can, is looking forward to being released and returning to his family for Xmas. His cell mate of six years, Nick, is likewise looking forward to his own simultaneous release, so that he can join his beautiful girl friend and pen pal, Ashley (Charlize Theron), about whom he has talked to Rudy incessantly for years and to whom he has read all her letters. Unfortunately, two days before Nick's and Rudy's release, Nick is stabbed, ostensibly to death.

When Rudy leaves prison, he sees the beautiful Ashley waiting for Nick. Having heard all about her for years and feeling like he knows her, Rudy assumes Nick's identity, and hooks up with her. Unbeknownst to Rudy, Ashley has an evil brother (Gary Sinise). When Rudy meets him, somewhat unceromoniously, he forces Rudy to become part of a casino robbery, because he believe Rudy to be Nick and is counting on Nick's prior knowledge of the casino to help them plot the robbery. When Rudy confesses to not being Nick, Sinise does not believe him, and Rudy is forced to use his wits to stay alive.

The twists and turns continue. If you think the brother is evil, the viewer finds out that he has nothing on his sister, Ashley. Unfortunately, it gets so unbelievable, as to be ludicrous, and the movie spirals out of control. Like I said, it's so bad, it's funny. Rent it, Don't buy it.

Very Entertaining
"Reindeer Games" works on so many levels as an action film, it's damn near flawless. In fact, I think it is flawless except for the lame-brained twist that was thrown in at the end, but that didn't ruin it so I stick to my five stars. I'm going to have to start trusting Elmore Leonard a lot more, because his mini-review on the cover sums up everything well. "Reindeer Games Rocks! A High-Energy Thriller That Never Lets Go." He's more accurate than Stephen King has been about certain movies. Anyways, the movie stars Ben Affleck as Rudy; a prison inmate who listens to his cellmate Nick talk about his penpal. The penpal is Ashley (Charlize Theron) who waits for Nick to get out of prison. Rudy and Nick each get out on the same day (3 days) and discuss what they're going to do. Nick is going to meet up with Ashley, Rudy is going to get some hot chocolate. But then, Nick dies and Rudy assumes his identity and meets up with Ashley. Things click between Rudy and Ashley (she's under the impression he's Nick) but then things change again. Ashley's brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise) has read some of the letters and plans to use Nick to help him and his gang rob a casino. Explaining to them that he's not Nick, does Rudy no good and he ends up being caught up inescapably part of the plan. The movie also boasts an impressive cast that includes Dennis Farina (Get Shorty), Danny Trejo (The Devil's Rejects), and Donal Logue (TV's Grounded for Life). Now, besides the great plot and interesting twists; the movie is also fueled by some great performances. Affleck is believable as Rudy and Theron is perfect at going from good girl to deceitful b**ch. It's Sinise that really packs some punch though. This is Gary Sinise in top form and this is the role that he is meant to play. The long haired, bearded bad guy. Sinise truly delivers some great supporting work here. This is one of the most exciting action films I've seen in a long time and if you're not a big fan of action films, well there's a bonus...Check out Charlize Theron's nude scene (not a sex scene, but a pre-sex scene; You can count on seeing some t 'n' a though).

GRADE: A

IT'S SO BAD, IT'S FUNNY...
One thing is to suspend belief, another is to suspend one's intelligence, which is what this movie requires. This movie is so bad, it is actually funny, at times. Replete with a bad script and bad acting, it revolves around a convoluted plot that has so many twists and turns, as to simply not be believable. The casting is bad, as well. Ben Affleck as a hardened convict? Come on...give me a break! He is simply not a good enough actor to play against type, charming though he be.

Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck), a professional car thief who has just spent six years in the can, is looking forward to being released and returning to his family for Xmas. His cell mate of six years, Nick, is likewise looking forward to his own simultaneous release, so that he can join his beautiful girl friend and pen pal, Ashley (Charlize Theron), about whom he has talked to Rudy incessantly for years and to whom he has read all her letters. Unfortunately, two days before Nick's and Rudy's release, Nick is stabbed, ostensibly to death.

When Rudy leaves prison, he sees the beautiful Ashley waiting for Nick. Having heard all about her for years and feeling like he knows her, Rudy assumes Nick's identity, and hooks up with her. Unbeknownst to Rudy, Ashley has an evil brother (Gary Sinise). When Rudy meets him, somewhat unceromoniously, he forces Rudy to become part of a casino robbery, because he believe Rudy to be Nick and is counting on Nick's prior knowledge of the casino to help them plot the robbery. When Rudy confesses to not being Nick, Sinise does not believe him, and Rudy is forced to use his wits to stay alive.

The twists and turns continue. If you think the brother is evil, the viewer finds out that he has nothing on his sister, Ashley. Unfortunately, it gets so unbelievable, as to be ludicrous, and the movie spirals out of control. Like I said, it's so bad, it's funny. Rent it, Don't buy it.