Send ‘Reindeer’ Back To Santa

Mon., March 6, 2000

Dave Rinehart, Ferris

“Reindeer Games” (Rated R)

What games do reindeers play? If you pay the price of a ticket to answer this question, expect to be disappointed. And if you pay the ticket price anyway, it still isn’t worth it.

The expectations of a solid cast and veteran director to create a decent action film are unmet. Bad dialogue, lackluster direction, and just plain stupidity plague every source of redemptive material.

“Reindeer Games” is nothing more than an out-of-gas thriller that will easily be forgotten.

Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) is an ex-con who takes his deceased cellmate’s identity in order to meet his gorgeous pen pal, Ashley.

Ashley only knew her convict Casanova through correspondence, and had never met him personally. She is easily deceived by Rudy’s ploy, and soon enough they’re shacking up at Motel 8.

Rudy’s troubles begin when Ashley’s psychopathic brother Gabriel shows up, and forces Rudy to take part in a multi-million dollar casino heist.

“Reindeer Games” features some neat double and triple-cross plot twists throughout, but that is where the interest ends.

None of the characters are very likeable, including the miscast Affleck as Rudy. The supporting cast, most notably Gabriel’s goon squad, is so shallow that their presence could have easily been replaced by a few more exploding semi-trucks.

The action scenes are less than spectacular and hardly make up for the horrendously cliche dialogue.

While it had the potential to be a much better film, these “Reindeer Games” are just not worth playing.

Grade: D

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