Worth seeing, if only for the score and Bernie Mac

Rating: 10/10 (9 August 2003)

I have to admit a certain reluctance to see this movie in the theaters when it came out, suffering from a case of remake avoidance. Not that I have seen the original, but more that I don't like remakes as a whole.
After watching it a couple of times on DVD, I admit I was wrong. Yes, there's a lot of cheese and predictability to this movie. Whatever is wrong with it from that perspective, there is much that is right. Start off with Clooney whose deadpan delivery of some very funny lines remains a highlight; to the underappreciated (and funny!) role that Bernie Mac plays; to Brad Pitt's outstanding acting (watch the coffee cup when they're kicking the idea around); to the excellent performance turned in by Elliott Gould.

Yes, there are a lot of celebs. Yes, it's a star-studded cast in Vegas, but it's worth it. The score is outstanding with that cool jazz style matching perfectly to the dialog and scene setup that goes on. The camera work and scene set up is amazing. Rent it on DVD or pick it up cheap and let the story be told to you. Don't look for depth - it's not there - but look for the good story, acting, direction and cinematography.