Movie Review

The Grand (2008)

Reviewed by Owen Gleiberman | Mar 26, 2008

Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman is a film critic for EW

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EW's GRADE

Details Limited Release: Mar 21, 2008; Rated: R; Length: 104 Minutes; Genre: Comedy; With: Woody Harrelson and Cheryl Hines

JOKERS IN THE DECK Michael McKean and Woody Harrelson in The Grand, an improv comedy about high-stakes poker that wastes... | The Grand, Michael McKean, ...

JOKERS IN THE DECK Michael McKean and Woody Harrelson in The Grand, an improv comedy about high-stakes poker that wastes its aces

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A far-too-wacky Christopher Guest knockoff. 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 — half the movie is zany backstory — so that the characters are never more than the sum of their (overstated) quirks. The cast is game, however. Woody Harrelson as a drug addict out to rescue the family casino, Cheryl Hines as a Long Island hausfrau, Richard Kind as a nerd savant — each of these improv farceurs wins a few laughs. But not enough. C

Originally posted Mar 26, 2008 Published in issue #985 Apr 04, 2008 Order article reprints

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