X
- 1994
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 37 m
- 1994
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 37 m
Summary A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.
Directed By: Ted Demme
Written By: Marie Weiss, Richard LaGravenese
- 1994
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 37 m
- 1994
- R
- Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- 1 h 37 m
The Ref
59
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Summary A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.
Directed By: Ted Demme
Written By: Marie Weiss, Richard LaGravenese
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
59
63% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
26% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
11% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
59
63% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
26% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
11% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
The performances are uniformly excellent — even Leary knows when to shut up and just listen — and this nasty romp delivers so many honest laughs, you may end up watching it twice in the same night to make sure you weren’t hallucinating.
Between Leary, Davis, Spacey and Johns, director Ted Demme (nephew of Jonathan, and director of Leary's MTV spots) has captured lightning in a bottle, and The Ref has enough subtle and not-so-subtle interplay to make a repeat viewing worthwhile.
Don't be misled by commercials that make The Ref look like slapstick silliness. This is a grown-up film that delights in undermining Christmas cliches.
If its dark heart had won out to the very end, The Ref could have been a minor classic. But it's a hilarious antidote to heartwarming holiday films -- and has some of the cruelest humor of any comedy in quite some time. [11 Mar 1994, p.G5]
If THE REF lived up to its early scenes, it would be a very funny movie indeed, but it soon sinks into a blandly commercial rut that slowly drains away what bitter energy it has.
Ref takes a one-note premise and claustrophobic setting so far that its eventual message — communication and commitment are good things — arrives DOA after the third or fourth time Leary has carped his disgust at all things yuppiefied.
First-time director Ted Demme (no relation to Jonathan), also of MTV ("Yo! MTV Raps"), displays little flair for comedy or storytelling beyond a sketch length. He also seems to have the sensibility of a dirty-minded eighth-grader. [11 Mar 1994]
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Awards
Chlotrudis Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Casting Society of America, USA
• 1 Nomination
