Christmas First Watch Review – The Ref (1994)

Ah yes, Christmas is, first and foremost, a time for family. Mind you, with a family like this one I can understand why people going off skiing somewhere distant or stock up on microwave roast meals and keep the curtains closed. Throw in the heightened fears of burglary surrounding houses full of brand new gear and a film that combines a dysfunctional family and a cat burglar and you have the makings of a cinematic nightmare.

Or so you might think. Instead we have a a comedy with just the right amount of cringe and plenty of laughs. But then The Ref is another recommendation from Terri. This time it is one of her favourites rather than her mother’s so let’s hope she has inherited the same good taste. I am seriously thinking about setting up a recommended reviews section. Either that or get Terri on the team! So please take note, if you have any favourites that we haven’t seen, drop us a line in the comments below.

The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App

The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.

As seen on

Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)

     

Read more about the RunPee app.

Mary, Gag Your Grandma

I have to admit that, on first look, I didn’t know how much I’d get from The Ref. My first thought was that it was a sport film as in The Referee. I don’t know a lot about sports in my home country and as for US sports, well, I could write everything I know on a small postage stamp while using a very broad nibbed marker. Still, I had a quick read of the IMDb summary and realised that I was wide of the mark. I also realised that, when it was released over here it was called Hostile Hostages which is a much more accurate description. So what is The Ref about? 

In short, we have a wealthy couple; Lloyd and Caroline Chasseur  – Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis. Their relationship is on the verge of falling apart for a variety of reasons and they are spending Christmas Eve in a marriage counselling session. While they are in therapy, a cat burglar (Gus – Denis Leary) is cracking a safe. It goes well until he is thwarted by some Home Alone-esque booby traps. While making his escape he kidnaps Lloyd and Caroline and goes back to their house to hide until the immediate police activity dies down.  Enter the rest of the bickering and bitching family along with a drunken neighbour. They have to take unusual  steps to get through the night.

Connecticut Is The Fifth Ring Of Hell

One thing that threw me was the billing order at the start; Kevin Spacey was listed third! It reminded me of when I rewatched Shallow Grave and Ewan McGregor was listed third. Now I know that Mr Spacey is having career difficulties of, allegedly, his own making but I just assumed he was top billed for everything he was in back in the nineties. Similarly I was surprised to find out that this was the film debut of JK Simmons. I know that he’s a similar age to me so I just assumed he had been acting since he was in his late teens or early twenties rather than his late thirties. Still, I think he is marvellous. I would watch him in anything; if he were British I’d be doing a bio of him!

Four years later Kevin Spacey went on to win an Oscar for playing a beleaguered, harassed husband with a wife called Carolyn and some odd neighbours.  Now I’m not insinuating that American Beauty copied The Ref but it was obviously a dry run for Kevin. I won’t say any more about what happens because I think you owe it to yourselves to track down a copy of The Ref/Hostile Hostages and give it a watch. It is, very probably, one of the best films you have never seen…probably never heard of!  And, once again, I have to thank Terri for the recommendation.

Movie Grade: A

Classic Movie Rewatch Review – Trading Places

What people are saying
about the RunPee app.

A Google user

July 11, 2019

I’ve loved this app for years and use it at the theater and home. Super easy to use and so helpful to know when it’s a good time to run for the restroom. I notify my kids when it’s close to time, so I don’t end up running them to the restroom multiple times. (Updated review from 4 to 5 . I’d had an issue with the app while at the theater and it was quickly resolved with FANTASTIC customer service. Thanks, RunPee!)

View all reviews: Apple App Store | Google Play Store

     

Christmas Rewatch Review – Lethal Weapon

Classic Movie Rewatch Review – Die Hard

Rob Williams

Former teacher, lecturer, homelessness administrator, pharmacy dispenser now happily retired, happily married, and a very happy granddad. I live next to the Mersey but on the side Daniel Craig and Taron Egerton come from rather than the side the Beatles came from!