For some reason, unknown to most of the world, poker has become a huge sport. It has always been fun to get together with some buddies, drink a couple of beers and have a friendly game. This kind of game was a running gag on the classic sit-com ‘The Odd Couple’ just because it is such a popular guy thing to do. Recently, poker has become a spectator sport with tournaments running almost constantly on television. Poker, especially the variant called ‘Texas Hold’em’ is all over the networks. When something becomes this popular all the major movie studios feel the obligation to cash in and use it as a subject of a film. For MGM/UA the response to the current poker craze is ‘Deal’. It is not that this is a bad film, it certainly has its moments, it is just that there is a feeling that we have seen this before. ‘Deal’ is fundamentally a sports flick where the ultimate boxing match or football game has been replaced by a winner take all poker tournament. After having to review several DVD box sets of poker series I have to admit that there is a little suspense inherent in a high stakes game. This is, after all, a game that combines strategy, the ability to lie convincingly and a measure of good old fashion luck. While the ‘World Poker Tour tournament’ will never be in the same league as the Superbowl or a World Series there is a reason so many people tune it to watch it. Many sports seem better played than watch, take golf and tennis for example, yet there is a vicarious excitement in the viewing of a well played game. This is what this film hopes to capture and while it falls short in many technical facets it does hold true to most of the aspects of the game of poker. Overall the film does not live up to its potential but might make for a reasonable popcorn flick or something to watch between hands in your own friendly game.

Writing this flick is Mark Weinstock and Gil Cates Jr. This is an initial work for Weinstock but Cates has penned another film about gambling, ‘$pent’. It does feel like they were trying to translate a typical sports underdog movie and adapt it to poker. This idea may be fundamentally sound but the lack of physicality in a car game diminishes any chance for action. The scenes that portray games should be suspenseful but the script does not covey any feeling of heighten excitement at all. There should have been more in the way of character development using the game as a backdrop instead of concentrating so heavily on poker. Sure, there is the theme of the master and student in a final showdown but that needed more of an understanding of the characters. Another problem with the story is the romantic relationship between the young male and female leads. This is an arc that doesn’t seem to go anywhere. The audience is teased with something human going on only to find the whole thread descend into a throw away section of the movie. There is just so much emphasis on poker that if you are not a completely dedicated fan of online poker and all the series on TV there is little to wrap you head around and engage you.

Cates does a little better on the directorial front. He paces the movie as well as possible all things considered. He attempts to infuse some sense of conflict initial between the young player and the girl and then between him and his older teacher in the game. Since he is new to the field Cates is still on a learning curve for his craft and should improve with a few more projects. He was smart to take on a subject he previously used, gambling, albeit from a different point of view. At least he didn’t become yet another new director/writer to go the horror flick route. He did rely too much on stunt casting here. The one big name in the movie is Burt Reynolds. Now Reynolds has handing in some incredible performances such as his work in ‘Boogie Nights’. He showed a comic talent in the ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ films. He has made his bones on television and films and is a consummate working actor. Here he appears to be sleepwalking through the scenes with little to demonstrate his abilities. The young man is played by Bret Harrison. He will be recognized by fans of odd ball television. Harrison was the nerd boyfriend on ‘Grounded for Life’ and has the leading role in the cult classic ‘Reaper’. He has the geek character down to a science and does as well as possible here. the female lead is Shannon Elizabeth who became famous for the first ‘American Pie’ flick. She really has little to do other than walk around looking sexy here.

Growing up Alex Stillman (Harrison) was a child math protégé. He is enthusiastic about the game of poker and has been honing his skills with online poker sites and dormitory games. Bret feels that he is ready for the big time; the World Poker Tournament in Las Vegas. For him this chance at winning is a lot more appealing that then job his father has ready for him; a clerk in a law firm. Alex graduates Magna Cum Laude but his father (Gary Grubbs) makes no secret that he would rather Alex received Summa. Alex’s thoughts for his immediate future are elsewhere. He just won an online poker game and the prize was an opportunity to compete in Vegas. He tries to explain to dad that the tournament will only take a couple of days and he’ll go to the law firm. The scene cuts to Tommy Vinson (Reynolds) watching Poker Stars Dot Com on television talking about the up coming tournament. He has been a professional poker player for years but is currently on a downward trend. Many of the players show are playing themselves and are well known by poker fans. One little bit if fun casting With Karen Jones played by Jennifer Tilly who has all but given up acting and is now one of the highest rank women in the game. When Vinson’s wife pops her head in the room he quickly changes the channel to a baseball game pretending he is watching it. When she leaves he goes back to the poker game where they have a feature about Alex. Vinson thinks of him as a grand standing fool but one with some potential. He made it to the final table as the chip leader but was over confident and lost it all. Vinson believes that he can coach the boy and make him a winner.

The DVD is from MGM/UA so the technical specifications are very well done. The film, however, is not up there with the great poker related films of all time. It cannot muster the drama and edge required to be consistently interesting. As mentioned this is a popcorn flick at best.