Struggles to do everything; The loser is the audience

Rating: 1/10 (11 October 2005)

To start, this movie had potential. A cast of popular actors including the likes of the talented Jeremy Piven in a completely underutilized role. However, by the first half hour, this film falls apart. Struggling to gain the feel of the movie "The Firm", you sometimes catch the wave of emotion rise only to be let down with no climax.
No character development. Giant plot holes. No explanations.
To a certain extent some of these losses can be compensated for with other elements of film making, but this comes off as more confusing than anything. Additions of nonsensical back stories with only single sentence mentions only to completely move onto other plot lines only add to the movie's problems. The story would do well to lessen its plot elements and rely on a smaller cast that has carried films in the past.
Al Pacino playing a caricature of himself in "The Devil's Advocate" substituting McConaughey for Keanu Reeves. It is a complete retread of the role exactly. Your are only left to imagine his character 20 years later.
Sending Matthew McConaughey in a plot of "Showgirls" without the skin never fits. Adding to the pain is Matthew McConaughey spending most of the film sounding the role of "Wooderson" in the film "Dazed and Confused", including similar delivery and even specific lines. This movie plays like a two hour love session with McConauhey flirting with....himself. Thus, there is only something for those interested in many angles of MM with his shirt off,working out....and his less than adequate pick up lines every five minutes.
The saving grace of the film is Renee Russo who preforms admirably. Unfortunately, she is left to struggle with a script that begs for more screen time. Instead we are left spending time with unnecessary storyline additions such as that of Armande Assante. Assante's performance, while good, only leads to more questions and requires Pacino to wither in stature for the sake of the Assante's villainous role.
What a mess. In the end the movie struggles to try and be all things to all people.
What does it become? It's a sports movie without sports. A love story without love. A drama that is unintentionally funny.