Deal is set in the world of high-stakes poker, in which a young newcomer with
plenty of talent but with a lot to learn (Bret Harrison) bursts onto the
tournament scene and attracts the attention of a retired player who decides to
take the youngster under his wing (Burt Reynolds). The newcomer's family
doesn't initially support his newly chosen profession, but all is forgiven when
they see how much money he makes. The old pro's wife has threatened to
leave him if he returns to the tables, but all is forgiven when she learns that
he is really playing to win back his dignity. Is this sounding familiar
yet? Oh yeah, and there's a hooker with a heart of gold too.
Seriously. Do I even need to mention that the master and apprentice have a
falling out and eventually meet in the finals of the highest stakes tournament
of them all? Or that in the end everyone learns the true meaning of
Christmas? OK, I made that last one up, but it could have easily been
tossed into this entirely derivative cliche fest.
Now I'm the kind of person who thinks that watching other people play poker
is about as exciting as watching other people play videogames, which I put just
above paint drying. However, a good director can still make tournament
poker matches exciting and dramatic to watch. Unfortunately Deal doesn't
have the benefit of a good director. I lost count of the number of times
one of our heroes needed just one good card to win the pot and that invariably
appeared on the final turn. Even the players themselves look bored by it
all.
Deal is nothing more than an attempt to make some easy money by cashing in on
the popularity of poker, and Texas Hold'em in particular. Very little
effort went into making this film, and you should expend just as much effort to
see it.
