Susan Granger’s review of “ONE NIGHT AT McCOOL’S” (USA Films/October Films)
“It’s just the sex and the violence all in one night is a bit much,” observes Randy (Matt Dillon), the sad-sack bartender at McCool’s. It all begins when he thinks he’s rescued a grifter (Liv Tyler) named Jewel from an assailant in the parking lot after closing time. Of course, nothing is as it seems and soon she’s redecorating his dilapidated house and he’s in a bingo parlor confiding in Burmeister (Michael Douglas), a seedy hitman. Then there’s Randy’s married cousin Carl (Paul Reiser), an arrogant lawyer who witnessed the rescue and ends up bartering legal advice for some S&M action with Jewel – which leads him to a confessional with his therapist (Reba McEntire). To complete the unsuspecting Missouri trio, there’s a kindly detective (John Goodman) who comes to McCool’s to investigate a murder. Since Jewel reminds him of his late wife, he falls for her – which necessitates a trip to church, where his parish priest (Richard Jenkins) elicits the sexual details. So we have a violent, steamy story told from three different viewpoints, none of them very compelling until the hysterical, action-packed shootout climax. As the vampy object of their lust, Liv Tyler plays the pivotal role. Unfortunately, she’s just not convincing as the ruthless manipulator of these three men who relate their “Rashomon”-like feelings about her. And the strength of heavy-handed Dutch/Norwegian director Harald Zwart is fast-paced camerawork, particularly flashbacks. Since this is the first project from Michael Douglas’s Furthur Films, one can only conclude that the late Stan Seidel’s well-constructed script must have read much better on paper. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “One Night at McCool’s” is a flimsy, forgettable 4. You’ll regret this dark hit-and-run comedy in the morning.
