Rent The Cooler on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Frank Hannah, Wayne Kramer
Directed by: Wayne Kramer
Starring: William H. Macy, Maria Bello, Alec Baldwin, Shawn Hatosy, Ron Livingston, Estella Warren, Joey Fatone, M.C. Gainey
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
An old school Las Vegas casino's top gambling jinx breaks his curse when he falls in love much to his boss's consternation.
Verdict
This feels like a film much older than it is, and I'm sure it's intentional. There is a lot of old school Vegas sentimentality while the looming new Vegas plays a bit of a villain. The idea of a cooler presents an interesting idea as his luck begins to change. Ultimately it might be the happy ending that makes this seem a bit boring.
Skip it.
Review
Love, luck, and misfortune can turn on a dime in Las Vegas. The movie has an old school feel, set at a dated casino that's facing hard times for its refusal to update and adapt.
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| Maria Bello and William H. Macy play Natalie and Bernie. |
Bernie (William H. Macy) works at the casino as a cooler. His bad luck is so pervasive that he causes the luck of those around him to plummet. He's on a contract to Shelly that runs out in a few days.
Bernie falls for Natalie (Maria Bello), a woman out of his league. This seems like a bit of movie magic as they only have one interaction, but there's more to come later on that. His fortune changes in tandem with his new relationship. He's a cooler that can no longer cool.
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| Alec Baldwin plays Shelly. |
Alec Baldwin plays Bernie's boss Shelly. All the performances are solid, but Baldwin does a great job as an old school casino boss. He can't have his best cooler turn into a good luck charm. That's the driving force in the movie. Bernie wants to leave, but Shelly wants him to stay to benefit the casino.
Luck can change and nothing is ever promised. It's a nice enough sentiment and I like the characters well enough, but the tame conclusion leaves me wishing for something more.
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