Demme and the screenwriters take care to fill out the scenario with vividly drawn characters such as Raymond J. Barry’s sardonic police chief and Robert Steinmiller Jr.’s Jesse.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 6, 2022

It's not just a Denis Leary vehicle. It's a real movie, with drama and grace and intelligence (and slapstick and drunk Santa gags and crude laughs).

| Jan 4, 2017

It's miraculous casting, and the Australian Davis -- for my money the finest actress around, bar none -- is simply uncanny in her command of East Coast gentility combined with razor-sharp timing and comedic expression.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 6, 2013

The Ref benefits from having actor's actors like Davis and Spacey in the leads.

| Dec 6, 2013

It's not a bad idea, but it's not a good movie, either.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 6, 2013

Whether it's a function of sloppy editing or sloppy writing, few of these supporting players and their accompanying subplots pay off.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 6, 2013

A foulmouthed sitcom of a film.

| Original Score: C- | Sep 7, 2011

The Ref works virtually none of the miracles of [Richard LaGravenese's screenplay for The Fisher King,] his previous mix 'n' match effort.

| Mar 26, 2009

What makes most of this work is the brio of the acting, though the direction by Ted Demme and the script by Richard LaGravenese and Marie Weiss certainly don't hurt.

| Nov 27, 2007

In his first starring role, comedian Leary makes his ranting career criminal strangely sympathetic.

| Feb 9, 2006

Staying clear of any mean-spirited attitudes, The Ref is a film to warm the hearts and touch the nerves of dysfunctional families everywhere.

| May 20, 2003

The Ref has a soft heart of domesticity underneath its superficially heartless humor.

| Original Score: B- | May 8, 2002

Demme brings out the comic ease in Leary.

| May 12, 2001

This is one holiday party you'll want to miss.

| Jan 1, 2000

The Ref is one of those rare movies that seem to have everything going for it -- a promising director, terrific actors and an original, unapologetically grown-up script -- yet somehow still turns out to be a phenomenal drag.

| Jan 1, 2000

Material like this is only as good as the acting and writing. The Ref is skillful in both areas.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 1, 2000

Leary rehashes his Bill Hicks persona for the umpteenth time, but if you can get past the blatant rip-off of his shtick, you'll find an inspired, virulent, often hilarious film that apparently was just too much for old Saint Nick.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2000