The Ref

Written by: Richard LaGravenese et al Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey

Superb casting (a perfect role for Leary) and the sharpest, wickedest dialogue this side of Mamet make this a black comedy worth watching. Some of the scenes and lines are sidesplitting, not least because of their venom. Plotting is thin, but the picture exists mainly to drop the hypersplenic Leary into the middle of a family that puts the DYS back in dysfunctional, and on that level it works. Had a bit of a problem getting comfortable with the premise; armed hostage situations are not inherently funny in this day and age. It is difficult to laugh around the knowledge that a real thug in Leary's position would probably torture and kill the family for fun. Also, the ending is abrupt and unfulfilling, but the picture is funny enough to be worth seeing despite the flaws. (3/16/94)