The Grand (2007)

38% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(2,890 ratings)

Incident at Loch Ness director Zak Penn takes the helm for this mockumentary that finds film and television star Woody Harrelson entering the Grand Championship of Poker in hopes of saving his late grandfather's popular hotel casino from a scheming real estate developer. As the wrecking ball swings… More Incident at Loch Ness director Zak Penn takes the helm for this mockumentary that finds film and television star Woody Harrelson entering the Grand Championship of Poker in hopes of saving his late grandfather's popular hotel casino from a scheming real estate developer. As the wrecking ball swings ever closer, Harrelson continually ups the ante in order to take home the top prize at the world's most prestigious poker tournament. Co-stars Ray Romano, Werner Herzog, Cheryl Hines, David Cross, and Dennis Farina all put on their best poker face for a comedy where all bets are off and anything can happen. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Zak Penn
Written By: Zak Penn, Matt Bierman
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 11, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Jun 10, 2008
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

John Anderson, Washington Post
Just showing us what ex-sitcom stars and Bavarian directors do in their spare time isn't quite enough to justify The Grand, which does for poker what Best in Show did for dogs while completely avoiding any jokes about poker-playing canines.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
You eventually get the feeling that the actors are riffing mainly for each other. Their attitude is, 'We're talented, trust us, we know how to be funny,' but in the end, it's mostly just a bluff.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The film is not much more than a gusher of oddball character sketches and ricocheting gags, but its manic pace and over-the-top inventiveness make The Grand a solid bet.
Maureen M. Hart, Chicago Tribune
It's hard to believe that a lineup so stellar could generate so few laughs, but there it is.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
It's obvious that The Grand's director, Zak Penn, set out to make the Best in Show of high-stakes poker, but to raise the ante, he piles up the absurdities and zany backstories.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
There's a lot of material there in the poker world that is ripe for satire but it misses the boat here almost always.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Decided that sticking to the formula was more important than letting something organic or crazy happen.
Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl
A collection of sketches does not add up to a drama in this case
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
For every scene that goes nowhere -- and there are more than a few -- there's some comedy gold lurking around the corner.
Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
THE GRAND has it's funny moments, and there were some things that I laughed hard at, but it's 104 minutes, which is much too long to be consistently funny.
Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun
The year's big dramatic gambling hit, 21, is all plot, no personality; The Grand, a comedy that follows six contenders into the finals of a poker tournament, is all personality, no plot. I'll take personality.
Christian Toto, Washington Times
The Grand gambles on its cast's improv chops but comes up only with a pair of sevens.
Tricia Olszewski, Let's Not Listen
Without Cheryl Hines or Chris Parnell, The Grand would be a fast fold.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
There's nothing under the surface of the comedy, although it's rarely less than amusing and frequently hilarious.
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
The new film The Grand should have been called Werner Herzog Steals the Show because that's precisely what he does in this mockumentary about a poker tournament.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
One-eyed Jack Faro's chances aren't assured but low odds amusement is yours for the buy-in. Satire has been dealt better hands with less bluff.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
Worth a gamble.
John Hartl, Seattle Times
There may be too many cooks here, too many TV stars trying to make an impression in a relatively high-profile independent film, but they connect just often enough to leave you smiling.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
There are small pleasures, but not many. It especially underwhelms when you consider how Penn seemed to have found a new paradigm for this now-hoary comic form.
Brian Tallerico, The Deadbolt
There's enough good material in the first act to almost merit a recommendation, but, like a poker player who just stops getting dealt the cards he needs, the film runs out of chips long before the credits roll.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Aaron N

Larry Schwartzman: I can psych the shit out of people. I don't need cards to beat you. I can literally have no cards, and I would still beat you. You think that's not playing fairly, or that's not the way a gentleman plays? I would fight you over that. A film similar… More
Larry Schwartzman: I can psych the shit out of people. I don't need cards to beat you. I can literally have no cards, and I would still beat you. You think that's not playing fairly, or that's not the way a gentleman plays? I would fight you over that. A film similar to the mockumentaries like Best in Show made by Christopher Guest, writer/director Zak Penn takes the same structure and focuses it on the world of poker. The film is made up of a number of actors, all of whom improvise their lines after being given a basic setup for their scenes. One Eyed Jack Faro: Building his stack . . . ! Lainie Schwartzman: Yeah, guess I just put that little brainiac fucker back in the game. Harold Melvin: You have the vocabulary of a drunken spice miner and the hairstyle of an Arrakeen whore. The film revolves around a poker tournament, The Grand, which has a jackpot of $10 Million. The main players are played by Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina, Chris Parnell, and Richard Kind. What gives the film a bit more excitement is the fact that the final tournament was played for real. The script had no written ending and while staying in character, the actors all played real poker, hoping to win. The film also features a large supporting cast, consisting of actors who are all good at both poker and improv, as well as a number of famous poker players and poker related personalities. Among these people is acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog in a bizarre but hilarious role. The German: To feel alive and to get this energy, it is essential for me to kill something each day. It doesn't have to be a large animal. I squish an ant once in a while, or spiders, they come very easily. I've shot stray dogs. Goose.. is a very, very troublesome animal. I've had a goat. To strangle a goat, that makes you feel really alive. Among the main actors, Harrelson is made out to be the biggest lead, but I found Richard Kind to be my favorite. He is an actor who's face you'll recognize, but not his name. The scenes involving his character worked the best for me and he also had odd but great chemistry with Parnell. The film actually does a great job at getting you to care for most of the main characters, especially during the closing scenes explaining what has come of them. It also helps that they are very good at the dry humor that goes with the improv concept. There are a few missteps in the film. Some of the comedy is hit-or-miss and the tournament does eventually play out like watching one on TV, which doesn't help the film. There is also a particular scene, which completely breaks the realm of the film's mockumentary setting. There is however, a lot of good fun and entertainment to be had in this movie. Harold Melvin: It is apparent that you have no concept of pot odds. There are a number of books available in the gift shop that explain it quite thoroughly. Also, you have corn in your teeth.
Derek A

If you like poker then you will love this movie! The Grand is a spoof of the World Series of Poker Tournament. The witty dialogue is funny, and it has great cameos.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Grand," Jack Faro(Woody Harrelson) is released from a 12-step program(one for each controlled substance), so he can compete in a multi-million poker tournament to have a chance to save his grandfather's(Barry Corbin) casino. But he is going… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The Grand," Jack Faro(Woody Harrelson) is released from a 12-step program(one for each controlled substance), so he can compete in a multi-million poker tournament to have a chance to save his grandfather's(Barry Corbin) casino. But he is going to have some very tough competition. Lainie Schwartzman(Cheryl Hines) is so good, she has earned enough money for her children's college education, and provides the rooting interest by being from Long Island.(Yes kids, there really is a Massapequa.) Her brother Larry(David Cross) does his best to keep up. Harold Melvin is an idiot savant who has seen "Dune" way too many times. Andy Andrews(Richard Kind) is an amateur player from Wisconsin who gained entry through a web site. Deuce Fairbanks(Dennis Farina) and The German(Werner Herzog) are the veteran cardplayers.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Grand" is a silly and occasionally funny mockumentary on the subject of televised poker tournaments. Since I usually have something better to do than watch one(which reminds me, "Dollhouse" is on tonight), I cannot consider myself an expert by any means. Regardless, its shots at unctuous commentators and trying to fit people into neat boxes feel like they hit the target. There are some real life people playing themselves which helps the atmosphere and some familiar faces in cameos which does not. Otherwise, the characterizations are hit and miss. While David Cross proves to be an eternal source of annoyance, Werner Herzog is a delight, exploiting his perceived insanity for laughs. [/font] [font=Century Gothic]What truly separates "The Grand" from mediocrity is an unexpected depth from generational conflicts. Larry and Lainie suffer under the thumb of a manipulative father(Gabe Kaplan?!?). Harold has a clinging mother(Estelle Harris). And Deuce is nostalgic for the good old days when you could shoot somebody and dump the body in the desert without anybody complaining.[/font]
Sol C

Very funny and entertaining. I was very impressed that the majority of the film was improvised. I thought that David Cross, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina, and Chris Parnell was hilarious in the film. It was also great seeing Gabe Kaplan (Mr. Kotter from Welcome Back Kotter) in the film… More
Very funny and entertaining. I was very impressed that the majority of the film was improvised. I thought that David Cross, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina, and Chris Parnell was hilarious in the film. It was also great seeing Gabe Kaplan (Mr. Kotter from Welcome Back Kotter) in the film playing Hines and Cross's father in the film. What bothered me with the film, was how much the director was trying to make the film, like a Christopher Guest type of film (like A Mighty Wind or Best in Show). Still the film is worth seeing.
Sarah P

It felt as if they were trying to achieve a "Best in Show" type movie, but it didn't get there for me. The cast was very talented and there were some funny scenes, but it was just kind of stagnant.
Christopher B

Terrible follow up to the excellent Incident as Loch Ness by Penn. In an interview he said that over 90% of the film is improvised and that may have a lot to do with how unfunny it is, nothing really seems to be that well thought out. Jokes, story, poker hands, everything. Also,… More
Terrible follow up to the excellent Incident as Loch Ness by Penn. In an interview he said that over 90% of the film is improvised and that may have a lot to do with how unfunny it is, nothing really seems to be that well thought out. Jokes, story, poker hands, everything. Also, having the least interesting character be the main one (Harelson's train wreck poker player) seems like another horrible misstep in expecting the audience to give a rat's ass about him. You do not need to "check" this one out (check as in "check" in poker rather than bet. Oh I am droll.)