The FTT Movie Review: The Grand

This is an improvised comedy based around a big-money winner-takes-all poker tournament, with a surprisingly potent cast that includes Ray Romano, Jason Alexander, David Cross, Dennis Farina, Woody Harrelson, Chris Parnell, Michael McKean, Richard Kind and more... but well, Werner Herzog kills it with a monologue that only Werner Herzog could deliver. I can't tell you how much I love this man, really.



It's really broad, of course, but you'll see enough of the stereotypes in people that you've played with... and the film has the additional fun point that the actors actually played the hands for real once they got to the final table. Cross, in particular, is wonderful as a Hellmuth-esque jerk, and Parnell is always great. It slows down a bit in an attempt to gain some heart and the actual drama of the tournament, but you get to quote insane monologues at your next table, and honestly, Herzog is just a joy. If you play the game, you'll enjoy it, and if you have Netflix Instnat Queue, it doesn't even require a DVD rental. Give it a look.