Caustic wit gets a full-body workout in this 1994 comedy, in which a cat burglar (Denis Leary) gets trapped in an affluent Connecticut neighborhood and is forced to hold a bickering couple hostage on Christmas Eve, only to discover that their Yuletide spirit is anything but cheerful. Caroline (Judy Davis) and her husband, Lloyd (Kevin Spacey), have been at each other's throats for so long that they've developed domestic arguments into an art form, and the would-be kidnapper turns into a reluctant mediator, even after he's got the battling couple wound up in bungee cords. The situation grows even more complicated when the couple's smart-aleck son comes home from military school, but it's not the plot here that's a top priority. Instead it's the sheer pleasure of witnessing a three-way verbal jousting match, written with razor-sharp skill and delivered by actors who are perfect for their roles. The movie's got a dark edge, but it never gets too dark--you know that it's not going to slide into more seriously damaging territory, so you can sit back and enjoy the volleys of scathing insults and sarcasm the way you would a Don Rickles performance. If that sounds like your idea of entertainment, The Ref will serve it up with style. --Jeff Shannon
2.
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.
3.
He's taken them hostage. They're driving him nuts.
MTV's Dennis Leary stars in one of the year's most outrageous and highly acclaimed comedy hits. Leary plays an unfortunate cat burglar who becomes trapped in a fate worse than jail when he takes a bickering couple (Kevin Spacey - American Beauty and Judy Davis- Judy Garland) and their annoying relatives hostage. Before long, they're driving him nuts, and the line between who is whose hostage begins to blur. His only hope for survival is to act as their referee and resolve their differences- or it's going to mean instant insanity for everyone! Spend a hysterically funny evening with The Ref- you're sure to experience an irreverent and fun filled time!
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