The Grand (2007)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Zak Penn

Writers (WGA):

Zak Penn (written by) &
Matt Bierman (written by)

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy about the fine art of losing

Plot:

An improvisational comedy using a handful of actors playing characters competing in an actual poker tournament. |

Plot Keywords:

Improvisational Comedy | Poker | Poker Tournament | Casino | Mockumentary

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	One Eyed Jack Faro
David Cross	...	Larry Schwartzman
Dennis Farina	...	L.B.J. Deuce Fairbanks
Cheryl Hines	...	Lainie Schwartzman
Richard Kind	...	Andy Andrews
Chris Parnell	...	Harold Melvin
Werner Herzog	...	The German
Jason Alexander	...	Dr. Yakov Achmed
Ray Romano	...	Fred Marsh
Mike Epps	...	Reggie Marshall
Judy Greer	...	Sharon Andrews
Gabe Kaplan	...	Seth Schwartzman
Michael Karnow	...	Mike Werbe
Michael McKean	...	Billionaire Steve Lavisch
Julie Claire	...	Dr. Jamie Sellers

Also Known As:

Untitled Zak Penn Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some drug content.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino - 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Insomnia Media Group

Trivia:

The script was barely 29 pages long. Zak Penn had the actors improvise.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In a scene, there's a showdown between Jack and The German. The community cards show 6d 8d 2d 2s 9d. Jack has Kd Qd making a King high flush. Phil Gordon makes a comment that the only hand that can beat this is an Ace high flush. But, there are actually 10 hands better than King high flush. The better hands would be, in descending order: 7d + 10d to make a 10 high straight flush 5d + 7d to make a 9 high straight flush 2h + 2c to make four of a kind, 2's 9 + 9 to make a full house 9's full of 2's 8 + 8 to make a full house 8's full of 2's 6 + 6 to make a full house 6's full of 2's 2 + 9 to make a full house 2's full of 9's 2 + 8 to make a full house 2's full of 8's 2 + 6 to make a full house 2's full of 6's Ad + any card to make an Ace high flush.

Quotes:

Harold Melvin: Ruth, if I were a food critic, I would give your cooking five stars -- five stars that had each collapsed into a black hole and merged to form the largest black hole in the universe.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-03-22)" (2008)

Best Poker movie since Cincinatti Kid

Yes, its silly, but so was Spinal Tap, which The Grand owes a debt to in many ways.

Gabe Kaplan is hilarious as the father of two poker pros and Dennis Farina has the old time Vegas hood down pat. Phil Gordon, the best live teacher in poker, has some great lines as the tournament commentator.

You will spot a friend or yourself in one or more of the players, and the cameos are fun, including Phil "the hillside strangler" Laak as he was introduced..

If you like poker and still have a funny bone, this is as good as it gets.