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The Grand

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The Grand (2008)

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Reviews Counted:42

Fresh:16

Rotten:26

Average Rating:5.2/10

Consensus: The Grand has moments of comic ingenuity, but the jokes in this poker satire often miss.

Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: In the tradition of such improv-driven comedies as BEST IN SHOW and A MIGHTY WIND, director Zak Penn (INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS) casts an affectionate eye on the world of professional poker in his... In the tradition of such improv-driven comedies as BEST IN SHOW and A MIGHTY WIND, director Zak Penn (INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS) casts an affectionate eye on the world of professional poker in his highly entertaining mockumentary, THE GRAND. Penn assembles an impressive ensemble of comedic performers and poker personalities to tell the story of six competitors in a $10 million winner-take-all Las Vegas poker tournament. Leading the way is One-Eyed Jack Faro (Woody Harrelson), a charming rogue whose addiction to drugs and quickie marriages has put his grandfather's casino on the brink of bankruptcy. Also vying for the prize are Lainie and Larry Schwartzman (Cheryl Hines, David Cross), two hyper-competitive siblings still angling for their father's favor; old school Vegas tough guy "Deuce" Fairbanks (Dennis Farina); socially inept math whiz Harold Melvin (Chris Parnell); and impossibly "Aw, shucks!" amateur Andy Andrews (Richard Kind). As the six fight their way to the final showdown, they cross bets and bluffs with a colorful cast of skills and sharks ranging from real-life poker legends such as Doyle Brunson to director Werner Herzog's scene-stealing cameo as "The German." Though the dialogue was frequently unscripted and the winner determined by the play of the actors, Penn does an exceptional job of crafting a cohesive poke at poker's current pop-culture stardom, as well as the quirks and dreams that drive individuals to risk fame and failure. Filled with jargon and laughs, THE GRAND is an insider's invitation to sit at the table and enjoy the games people play. [More]

Starring: Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis Farina, Cheryl Hines

Starring: Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis Farina, Cheryl Hines, Richard Kind, Chris Parnell, Jason Alexander, Ray Romano, Werner Herzog, Gabe Kaplan, Shannon Elizabeth

Director: Zak Penn

Director: Zak Penn
Screenwriter: Zak Penn, Matt Bierman
Producer: Bobby Schwartz, Ross M. Dinerstein, Bret Saxon, Jeff Bowler, Zak Penn, Gary Marcus
Composer: Stephen Endelman
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

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Reviews for The Grand

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Decided that sticking to the formula was more important than letting something organic or crazy happen.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
11/19/09
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

A collection of sketches does not add up to a drama in this case

Full Review Source: Playback:stl | comment Comment
09/19/08
Sarah Boslaugh
Sarah Boslaugh
Playback:stl

For every scene that goes nowhere -- and there are more than a few -- there's some comedy gold lurking around the corner.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
09/02/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

THE GRAND has it's funny moments, and there were some things that I laughed hard at, but it's 104 minutes, which is much too long to be consistently funny.

Full Review Source: Sin Magazine | comment Comment
06/08/08
Austin Kennedy
Austin Kennedy
Sin Magazine

The year's big dramatic gambling hit, 21, is all plot, no personality; The Grand, a comedy that follows six contenders into the finals of a poker tournament, is all personality, no plot. I'll take personality.

Full Review Source: Baltimore Sun | comment Comment
04/11/08
Michael Sragow
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun

The Grand gambles on its cast's improv chops but comes up only with a pair of sevens.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
04/11/08
Christian Toto
Christian Toto
Washington Times

Without Cheryl Hines or Chris Parnell, The Grand would be a fast fold.

Full Review Source: Let's Not Listen | comment Comment
04/10/08
Tricia Olszewski
Tricia Olszewski
Let's Not Listen

Just showing us what ex-sitcom stars and Bavarian directors do in their spare time isn't quite enough to justify The Grand, which does for poker what Best in Show did for dogs while completely avoiding any jokes about poker-playing canines.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
04/10/08
John Anderson
John Anderson
Washington Post

There's nothing under the surface of the comedy, although it's rarely less than amusing and frequently hilarious.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
04/09/08
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

The new film The Grand should have been called Werner Herzog Steals the Show because that's precisely what he does in this mockumentary about a poker tournament.

Full Review Source: KPBS.org | comment Comment
04/07/08
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

One-eyed Jack Faro's chances aren't assured but low odds amusement is yours for the buy-in. Satire has been dealt better hands with less bluff.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
04/06/08
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Worth a gamble.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
04/04/08
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

There may be too many cooks here, too many TV stars trying to make an impression in a relatively high-profile independent film, but they connect just often enough to leave you smiling.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
04/04/08
John Hartl
John Hartl
Seattle Times

You eventually get the feeling that the actors are riffing mainly for each other. Their attitude is, 'We're talented, trust us, we know how to be funny,' but in the end, it's mostly just a bluff.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
04/04/08
Walter V. Addiego
Walter V. Addiego
San Francisco Chronicle

There are small pleasures, but not many. It especially underwhelms when you consider how Penn seemed to have found a new paradigm for this now-hoary comic form.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
04/04/08
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy
Oregonian

There's enough good material in the first act to almost merit a recommendation, but, like a poker player who just stops getting dealt the cards he needs, the film runs out of chips long before the credits roll.

Full Review Source: The Deadbolt | comment Comment
04/04/08
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
The Deadbolt

[Director Zak] Penn eases into the candid style and subdued rhythms of the mockumentary with a breezy confidence.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
04/03/08
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The film is not much more than a gusher of oddball character sketches and ricocheting gags, but its manic pace and over-the-top inventiveness make The Grand a solid bet.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
04/03/08
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's hard to believe that a lineup so stellar could generate so few laughs, but there it is.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
04/03/08
Maureen M. Hart
Maureen M. Hart
Chicago Tribune

It's obvious that The Grand's director, Zak Penn, set out to make the Best in Show of high-stakes poker, but to raise the ante, he piles up the absurdities and zany backstories.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
03/26/08
Owen Gleiberman
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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