| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Denis Leary | ... | ||
| Judy Davis | ... | ||
| Kevin Spacey | ... | ||
| Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. | ... | ||
| Glynis Johns | ... | ||
| Raymond J. Barry | ... | ||
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Richard Bright | ... |
Murray, Gus' Driver
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| Christine Baranski | ... | ||
| Adam LeFevre | ... |
Gary Chasseur
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Phillip Nicoll | ... |
John Chasseur
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Ellie Raab | ... |
Mary Chasseur
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| Bill Raymond | ... |
George
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| John Scurti | ... |
Lt. Steve Milford
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| Jim Turner | ... |
Phil
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Herbie Ade | ... |
Herbie, Bartender Mackerel Bar
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Denis Leary plays an unfortunate cat burglar, who is abandonded by his partner in the middle of a heist, and is forced to take an irritating Connecticut couple (Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis) hostage. He soon finds that he took more than he bargained for when the couple's blackmailing son and despicable in-laws step into the picture. Before long they're driving him nuts with their petty bickering and family problems. The only way for him to survive is to be their referee and resolve their differences, before he can be nabbed by the police. Written by Nick D. <ndoherty@imt.net>
In what may be his funniest role to date, Denis Leary plays kidnapper Gus, who takes wealthy Connecticut couple Lloyd (Kevin Spacey) and Caroline Chasseur (Judy Davis) hostage one Christmas Eve, only to have them drive him absolutely nuts due to their bad marriage! As Gus puts it: "I kidnapped my f--king parents!" We might say that Spacey's role here was a predecessor to his character in "American Beauty" - I can certainly see a similarity - but that's missing the point. The point is to watch how the people here go from one embarrassing situation to the next. The dinner scene really blows everything out of the water. Overall, "The Ref" is looking at the falsity of the suburban lifestyle, but they do some hilarious things to show it. I would say that "The Ref" and "Gremlins" are my two favorite Christmas movies ever.
Also starring Glynis Johns and Christine Baranski.