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The Ref

R Released Mar 9, 1994 1h 33m Comedy List
74% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 73% Audience Score 25,000+ Ratings
Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home. Read More Read Less
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The Ref

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Critics Consensus

Undeniably uneven and too dark for some, The Ref nonetheless boasts strong turns from Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey, as well as a sharply funny script.

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Critics Reviews

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Kelly Vance Chicago Reader Demme and the screenwriters take care to fill out the scenario with vividly drawn characters such as Raymond J. Barry’s sardonic police chief and Robert Steinmiller Jr.’s Jesse. Rated: 3/4 Jun 6, 2022 Full Review Jason Bailey Flavorwire It's not just a Denis Leary vehicle. It's a real movie, with drama and grace and intelligence (and slapstick and drunk Santa gags and crude laughs). Jan 4, 2017 Full Review Jeff Shannon Seattle Times It's miraculous casting, and the Australian Davis -- for my money the finest actress around, bar none -- is simply uncanny in her command of East Coast gentility combined with razor-sharp timing and comedic expression. Rated: 3/4 Dec 6, 2013 Full Review Jeff Simon Buffalo News No matter how clever the script sometimes is, the laughs elicited by this movie are cheap, tinny sitcom laughs. Rated: 3.5/5 Feb 29, 2024 Full Review Patrick McDonald HollywoodChicago.com Often cited by many as a favorite Christmas film. Why? Because it depicts family ties at its most honest and painful, which is closest to the truth of what and who we are, especially in the midst of fake cheer of the holidays. W/Pat&Ken At the Holidays! Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 17, 2023 Full Review Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net If you are in the mood for something different at Christmas than The Ref might be a fun choice for you. Rated: C+ Mar 21, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (931) audience reviews
Audience Member Denis Leary is the ref but not a very good one it seems He plays a burglar Gus, it's Christmas time and he's in the middle of robbing a mansion in Connecticut But what he didn't count on was running into a bickering couple Lloyd and Caroline Gus not only has to make them hostages but also deal with their relatives and their many issues Some nice co-stars include Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, and Christine Baranski I didn’t like a single character in this, mainly it’s so much bickering back and forth with minor subplots that never flesh out but at least Leary is keeping the whole thing together reading these lines in quick flawless succession Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/12/24 Full Review Vicki B Absolutely fantastic. I love the sarcasm. Language not for kiddos. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/23/23 Full Review Tamarra R This is my Christmas go-to. Love everything about it - dialogue is fantastic and every dysfunctional member of your family is represented. Truly a delight. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/23/23 Full Review Rich G Had become one of my favorite holiday movies. Some seriously funny lines.. good fun! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/12/23 Full Review Renay M Slap happy comedy that has some real depth. Leary was made for this role. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/08/23 Full Review Lorenz L I love this movie, an every-year holiday favourite - but the unrelenting black humour may turn-off some viewers. The romantic spats between Judi Davis and Kevin Spacey are gloriously nasty, even with a suave, sly (and attractive) nemesis in Denis Leery, Look for the uncredited BD Wong in the first scene, as a marriage counselor, which launches one of the funniest stories in the film, repeated for Davis to emasculate Spacey: a recurring dream in which she is served his penis on a bed of spinach. My favourite scene: the traditional Scandinavian Christmas feast, with all guests expected to wear wreath-like headpieces festooned with lit candles. What could possible go wrong? Great performances throughout, including from veteran Glynis Johns. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Ref

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Movie Info

Synopsis Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.
Director
Ted Demme
Producer
Ronald M. Bozman, Richard LaGravenese, Jeff Weiss
Screenwriter
Marie Weiss, Richard LaGravenese
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.3M
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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