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The Grand

Critics' Pick

(No longer in theaters)

Rating: R — for language and some drug content
Director: Zak Penn Cast: Julie Claire, David Cross, Shannon Elizabeth, Mike Epps, Dennis Farina
Running Time: 95 minutes
Reader Rating: Write a Review

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Genre

Comedy

Producer

Matt Bierman

Distributor

Anchor Bay

Release Date

Mar 21, 2008

Release Notes

Limited

Official Website

www.thegrandthemovie.com

Review

The Christopher Guest improvisational ï¿½mockumentaryï¿½ form is precarious: In a heartbeat the actors can go from too realistic (not funny) to too broad (bye-bye illusion). Zak Penn’s The Grand is a seesaw, but the settingï¿½the high-stakes poker subcultureï¿½is remarkably fertile and the actors are a treat. Cheryl Hines has mastered the technique of remaining unaffectedly chirpy in moments of extreme farce, and Ray Romano is a groggy wonder as her husband, who was once struck by lightning and is now a beat behind. Best of all is Chris Parnell, who meets no one’s eyes and holds forth in a singsong monotoneï¿½an Asperger’s poster boy even those with the syndrome will find gut-busting. — David Edelstein