FILM: THE REF

Denis Leary likes to swear. He really likes to let loose with the bad language. If you're into cussing, you'll like this movie. Unfortunately, underneath all the swearing brilliance displayed in The Ref, there is a minor omission. It seems to be missing a plot. Usually this would be a glaring mistake, but who are we kidding, did we really expect one? The Ref revolves around Lloyd (Kevin Spacey) and Caroline (Judy Davis), an unhappy couple who are seeking a way out of their marital troubles. Caroline resents Lloyd's mother for keeping him on such a short leash, and she resents Lloyd for being so compliant. Into their life steps Gus (Leary), a thief on the run who needs to seek refuge. He takes Lloyd and Caroline hostage so he can hide out in their house, but what he didn't expect was that he would be caught in the middle of their incessant arguments. Their bickering takes up the bulk of the movie, and from it stems most of the jokes. Confusion mounts when Gus discovers that he has to deal with not only Lloyd and Caroline, but their obnoxious in-laws as well, who are on their way for Christmas dinner. Posing as their marriage counselor, he fools them all, and his lies form some of the funnier moments in the film. The relatives all hate each other, which is understandable because they are all very irritating characters. Gus, ironically, seems to have the best sense of what's right and wrong, and turns out to be a mediator of sorts in a bitch-fest. He even has a few forced philosophical moments. Unfortunately, as Gus shows more depth, Leary shows a lack of real acting ability. Leary's somewhat tactless sense of humor is the sole bright spot in this whole mess. The role of Gus is right up his alley, a chain-smoking foul-mouthed smartass, but he has trouble moving outside his stand-up persona. Still, Leary has plenty of good one-liners mixed in with a lot of bad ones, and they're just enough to keep things interesting. The acting by everyone else is marginal at best, but the performers aren't helped by a terrible screenplay. Regardless, the film does provide modest entertainment -- for those who aren't looking for any deep mental stimulation. As for Denis Leary, he should stick to MTV.