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C. CRADDOCK | Bakersfield | 01/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One Night at McCool's is a dark comedy that is pretty darn entertaining. Maybe it is just one long set up for a Village People gag, but it's fun to stay at the YMCA. They have assembled a very interesting cast, and everyone contributes, making the whole equal to more than the sum of its parts. The story is told like a Faulkner novel, from multiple viewpoints. It's Rashamon Time, as Randy the bartender (Matt Dillon); his cousin, the lawyer Carl Harding (Paul Reiser); and grieving widower Detective Dehling (John Goodman), all tell different versions of the events that happened One Night at McCool's. Each of the men have someone to tell their story to: Carl tells Dr. Green (Reba McEntire), Dehling tells Father Jimmy (Richard Jenkins), and Randy tells Mr. Burmeister (Michael Douglas), the hitman he has hired to take care of his "problem."

Randy's problem is Jewel Valentine (Liv Tyler), the woman he encountered One Night at McCool's. She has driven him, along with Carl and Detective Dehling, stark raving crazy. All she really wants is to have a nice house full of nice furniture and things, but what won't she do to get them? Or, what won't she make the men do?

Liv Tyler is well cast as a woman with the the power to drive men wild. She has a certain charisma, but at the same time she's kind of a dork. See Stealing Beauty for further evidence of her beautiful brand of dorkiness. Paul Reiser was best known for the sit com, "Mad About You," but One Night at McCool's gives him the opportunity to stretch his comedic envelope. Richard Jenkins, as Father Jimmy, turns in yet another brilliant character actor turn. He has finally gotten some recognition with an Oscar nomination for "The Visitor." As the lead, not supporting, Jack. John Goodman is a good man, Matt Dillon is always willin' to go that extra mile, and Michael Douglas is a hit as the hitman. And did I mention Andrew 'Dice' Clay in not one but two roles? Fugedaboutit! Four cast members have appeared in films with Kevin Bacon. All this, and the best use of a snowglobe as metaphor since Citizen Kane?

Death Sentence (Unrated Edition) (2007) .... John Goodman was Bones Darley (with Kevin Bacon)
The Visitor (2007/I) .... Richard Jenkins was Prof. Walter Vale
Loverboy (2005) .... Matt Dillon was Mark (with Kevin Bacon)
Wild Things (Unrated Edition) (1998) .... Matt Dillon was Sam Lombardo (with Kevin Bacon)
The Big Lebowski - 10th Anniversary Edition (1998) .... John Goodman was Walter Sobchak
Stealing Beauty (1996) .... Liv Tyler was Lucy Harmon
Falling Down (1993) .... Michael Douglas was William 'D-Fens' Foster
Tremors (1990) .... Reba McEntire was Heather Gummer (with Kevin Bacon)
Pretty in Pink (1986) .... Andrew 'Dice' Clay was Bouncer at CATS
Diner (1982) .... Paul Reiser was Modell (with Kevin Bacon)"