ham and cheese, anyone?

Rating: 6/10 (29 December 1999)

Thank God Olly Stone has cut the hackneyed political crap out of his most recent films. Of course, this doesn't make them any less ridiculous, only much easier to watch. Even if he could forget for ten seconds all those fancy editing tricks he's learned from TV advertising, he'd still have to learn how to imbue his scripts with a bit more depth, and a few realistic (or at least likeable) female characters, if he really wanted to make a good film. As it stands, at least he has chosen wisely in the casting dept. If you're going to go full on with the sports cheese, there's no one like Al Pacino to give your picture the ham that it needs to complete the hors d'oeuvre. Cameron Diaz proves yet again that she's afraid of no part, or co-star; it's just too bad Stone hates women so much that he makes her a hardhearted bitch. (Imagine a man in the same role coddling his mother's lap dog at the big game to signify his redemption...) Lopping thirty-plus minutes off this "epic" would have made it a better experience, but it cannot be denied that the film entertains.