One Night at McCool's (2001)

33% of critics liked it
(105 reviews)
37% of users liked it
(15,743 ratings)

The debut project from co-star Michael Douglas' production company Further Films, this comic crime caper uses the narrative devices of multiple points of view and flashbacks, à la Rashomon (1951) and that classic film's many imitators. A late-night slaying at a bar called McCool's is the point of… More The debut project from co-star Michael Douglas' production company Further Films, this comic crime caper uses the narrative devices of multiple points of view and flashbacks, à la Rashomon (1951) and that classic film's many imitators. A late-night slaying at a bar called McCool's is the point of departure as Detective Dehling (John Goodman), bartender Randy (Matt Dillon), and Randy's lawyer-cousin Carl (Paul Reiser) project their fantasies onto the sexy Jewel (Liv Tyler), whose boyfriend (Andrew Dice Clay) is the corpse in question. As each man spills his guts -- Dehling to his priest, Randy to an aging hit man (Douglas), and Carl to his therapist (Reba McEntire) -- it becomes clear that the femme fatale Jewel has been manipulating the smitten men for her own purposes, namely a house full of cutting-edge electronic gadgets. One Night at McCool's is the debut American film from Norwegian commercial and music video director Harald Zwart. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Harald Zwart
Written By: Stan Seidel
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 27, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Oct 9, 2001
Studio: USA Films

Critic Reviews

Dennis Lim, Village Voice
Oblivious to its own towering obsolescence.
Wesley Morris, San Francisco Chronicle
Feels like a needless, thankless, charmless shout-out to the '80s rock video.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It eventually loses its concentration and ultimately falls apart.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
There isn't much to McCool's that couldn't be found in an adult magazine.
John Anderson, Newsday
Straining for a sense that a good time was had by all.
Jonathan Foreman, New York Post
Sourly unsexy and vulgar.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Disappointing, too violent, and not very funny.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...a breezy, nasty little film that delivers more than it promises.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
No matter how bad a movie with A-list actors involved is, it will still be released - somewhere, sometime, to someone.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
[Tyler] seems like she would be more at home playing a tomboy.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Conner R

A really bizarre blend of comedy and brutal killing. I was truly not expecting the turn of events in the movie. However, it falls short of actually having any purpose besides showing off Liv Tyler. It has it's moments, but in the end it is just a forgettable comedy.
Anthony L

A bit of fun but not great.
Derek D

Despite the pretty good cast and acting, this movie about a love-and-murder story told from different points-of-view is only average at best. I expected more and was seriously disappointed.
Candy R

A dark version of There's Something ABout Mary, where all the guys fancy the same girl. Except Liv uses this to her advantage to get what see wants. Good cast.
xGary X

Liv Tyler doing her best Jessica Rabbit impersonation stars as a vampy femme fatale who beguiles every man she meets by spontaneously turning into a photo shoot from FHM magazine, and wackiness ensues. A promising cast fail to save what is essentially a film noir spoof that… More
Liv Tyler doing her best Jessica Rabbit impersonation stars as a vampy femme fatale who beguiles every man she meets by spontaneously turning into a photo shoot from FHM magazine, and wackiness ensues. A promising cast fail to save what is essentially a film noir spoof that unfortunately is totally lacking in wit and any measure of subtlety. What starts off as a kind of Elmore Leonard style comic drama suddenly becomes some kind of Rashomon (or Jackie Brown) homage in which the same story is told from three different perspectives, and ends up as tacky farce involving comedy bondage gear and a shoot-out to the strains of The Village People. It's heavy handed, vulgar and more than a little misogynistic, and you'd be far better served watching Grosse Point Blank or Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang instead.
Aaron N

Strange cast, mixed with weird love triangles or is it love squares...whatever...and Michael Douglas.
Naughtia N

This movie has some really great actors and some really funny scenes. There is no denying that Liv Tyler looks extremely hot in this movie. I liked this movie because its not much like the other movies I'm used to watch and I'm also a huge fan of both Liv Tyler and Matt… More
This movie has some really great actors and some really funny scenes. There is no denying that Liv Tyler looks extremely hot in this movie. I liked this movie because its not much like the other movies I'm used to watch and I'm also a huge fan of both Liv Tyler and Matt Dillon, both their characters were great. If you're in to a bit weird black comedies, you probably would like this movie.
Leo L

Great!
Chosen 7

It gets three stars only because of how hot Liv Tyler is, not because it's a good comedy.
Sarah B

A little disjointed but smart and funny. Douglas is brilliant but disturbing. Tyler is outstanding. A weird and black comedy.