Reynolds plays Tommy Vinson, a washed-up poker champion who swore off gambling twenty years before after the activity drained his bank account and his wife (Maria Mason) threatened to divorce him. Tommy discovers Alex Stillman (Bret Harrison), a cocky young star on the poker circuit. Seeing Alex’s potential, Tommy offers to train the kid, introducing him to the intricacies of the profession and the joys of Vegas. After a falling out, the two wind up on opposite sides of the table, just in time for the championship game.
In what can only be described as a shallow, derivative poker film, writers Gil Cates, Jr. (who also directed) and Mark Weinstock use every cliché in the book. Vinson is the washed-up card shark who can’t get out of the game and Shannon Elizabeth plays Michelle, Alex’s love interest who turns out to be a hooker. Cates and Weinstock show no originality, instead they use plot devices that have been used in so many films, and it would take days for me to list them all. The tired ploy might work if the script were any good, but as it is; much of the story is highly illogical.
Burt Reynolds looks like he’s sleep walking through this one. Who wouldn’t be? The story itself is about as interesting as watching paint dry and as predictable as the fact that taxes are due every April 15th. By the time Deal was about thirty minutes in, the only thing keeping me awake was my curiosity over how Reynolds skin got so tight. Every time he smirks, it looks as though the skin might snap right off his face.
Anyway, back to the film. Everything else is just filler leading us to the final round of the tournament, which is probably just as well, because Bret Harrison isn’t leading man material. Once we get to the final match, we might as well watch a poker match on ESPN 2 because Cates insists on shooting the match move by move, while commentators explain (and re-explain) every single move our stars take. Since the commentators are Michael Sexton and Vincent Van Patten playing themselves, we are watching a badly disguised ESPN.
Deal is a drama where the script tells us every move through voiceover: “OK, if Tommy gets an ace, he wins this hand. He gets an ace. He wins. Dealer deals again.” That’s what passes for drama. Go poker on television if you enjoy watching the game. It will feel like a better use of your time.
Fox sent me a watermarked DVD-R screener copy to review, so I can’t honestly comment on the video quality. Audio is presented in Dolby 5.1 and 2.0. Dialogue and music are clear on both. Spanish and French 5.1 overdubs are included, as are optional English and Spanish subtitles.
If you actually make it to the extras you’ll find one feature unique to this release.
• PokerStars Presents: Winning Big at Texas Hold ‘Em with Isabelle Mercier and Greg Raymer (13:21) – The two poker stars offer game tips, and Raymer runs down the mechanics of the final hand that won him the championship in 2004. They play a hand, giving their thoughts as they wager.
