Smokin' Aces

Enough with the Pulp Fiction comparisons, people. This movie doesn't qualify, because it doesn't even know what it wants to be or what it's trying to accomplish. What you're left with is a bunch of half-executed attempts to create what could have been a great thrill ride. When Vegas showman Buddy "Aces" Israel decides to roll over on his mob buddies to save his own ass, a gaggle of crazy characters come looking for him—contract killers hoping to claim the $1 million bounty on his head and the FBI hoping to save him and their case. With names like Jeremy Piven, Ray Liotta, Andy Garcia, and Ryan Reynolds on board, it sounds promising, and most of the acting is fine. But the script and its just-for-shock-value plot twists begin to unravel, leaving the actors with little to work with. Once the guns (and chain saws!) come out, the movie finds its stride, but it takes too long to get to that and even longer winding it up after the smoke clears. There are a few laughs (as well as plenty of failed jokes), but director Joe Carnahan throws a curveball of drama at the end that doesn't quite sync with the rest. If you're looking to kill a couple hours (we'd have been much happier at an hour and a half) there are worse things you could watch. We just wish Carnahan had followed through with one idea rather than leaving us with a hollow shell of unfunny comedy and heavy-handed drama that just refuse to mesh.

Read our interview with writer/director Joe Carnahan.

Then check out exclusive clips and more comments from Carnahan in this video .