Ray Donovan: The Movie

This two-hour film wrap-up of the unjustly cancelled crime series may feel patchy and uneven, but it still gives Liev Schreiber's Ray-a hardcase-for-hire who can fix anything but the nightmare of his past- the send-off he and we deserve.

An engrossing ’80s timeline shows the genesis of the enmity between the young Ray (a suitably intense Chris Gray) and his dirtbag dad (a suitably dirtbaggy Bill Heck). You’ll get it now.

The bad news is, there is no season 8 and the movie's sense of obligation makes it a bit tiresome for anyone not wholly invested in the series. The good news is, sometimes fan protests pay off.

There are some nice references and callbacks, but where the movie truly succeeds is in getting to the emotional core of the series that -- like Ray's memories of the past --reveals its most important and formative truths.

While the movie finale may not come in a package that satisfies every diehard fan, it wraps up its compelling portrait of an eccentric working-class family as emotionally chaotic as should be expected.

Ray frequently used a baseball bat to solve problems. Although it's nice to see the show's creative team afforded one final swing, it's too bad they don't knock it out of the park.

If you haven't seen the show, it's unlikely you'll find very much from this movie, other than some trademark violence and colorful language.

None of this works with Schreiber. With the guile and ease of a theater-trained actor, hes never overplayed Ray, putting extra stock into one-word sayings like sure and alright. Its still arguably his best and most challenging role.

The conclusions to many lingering questions only get a brief nod rather than a season eight exploration, but it thankfully resolves Ray's biggest headache... even if it's not the happiest of endings.

Ray Donovan: The Movie is a slow burn, but at a tight 100 minutes, should provide closure for fans of the show, a bit of action and even some emotional moments.