In icebound Wichita, Kansas, it's Christmas Eve, and this year Charlie Arglist just might have something to celebrate. Charlie, an attorney for the sleazy businesses of Wichita, and his unsavory associate, the steely Vic Cavanaugh have just successfully embezzled $2 million from Kansas City boss Bill Guerrard. But the real prize for Charlie is the stunning Renata, who runs the Sweet Cage strip club. Charlie hopes to slip out of town with Renata. But as daylight fades and an ice storm whirls, everyone from Charlie's drinking buddy Pete Van Heuten to the local police begin to wonder just what exactly is in Charlie's Christmas stocking--and the 12 hours of Christmas Eve are filled with surprises.

This is one of those movies that when you hear the premise to the movie and who is starring in it you can’t help but be excited to see the movie and then when you do see it, it is somewhat of a disappointment. What was wrong with the movie, I am not entirely sure but the movie comes off flat at times and fails to completely enthrall you. It may have been the story which was overly simplistic but it worked for the most part. Sure they didn’t try to do anything new or inventive, its your basic heist movie where everything that can go wrong does. I don’t think it was the actors as the movie puts together a stellar cast. I think the movie was just missing the magic, the little things that can turn an ok movie into a great movie, a mediocre film into a memorable one. Like the fact there is very little wit to the movie, this has always been a trademark for a John Cusack film for me, that biting wit, that sarcastic humor that sits with you long after the movie is over, this movie has none of that and it falls flat at times because of it. I liked the movie don’t get me wrong but I wasn’t in love with it which is a shame because the movie could have been better. The movie has strange moments that I can’t even begin to comprehend why Harold Ramis put them in, like all the random nudity. Good caper film, yes, good actors, good story, yes, the magic and the wit and humor for a memorable movie, sadly no.

John Cusack has to be one of my favorite actors in all of Hollywood which is why it’s a shame that he is in this average movie as normally he would make it into a great movie. I can’t help but think of Grosse Pointe Blank that is somewhat similar to the movie but had the magic and the wit this movie was missing. I don’t think its Cusack’s fault but it is still a shame. Another one of my favorite actors Billy Bob Thornton is also in this movie but I am not entirely surprised by his let down performance as lately he has been going down hill slowly. He has pigeonholed himself into this one type of character and just can’t seem to escape from it no matter how hard he tries. Think Bandit’s or the Man Who Wasn’t There you have seen Vic Cavanaugh before and they don’t even try to hide the fact of it. Everyone else comes and goes in a blur, nobody standing out nor leaving a lasting impression which might be a reason the movie seems to be flat at times. For whatever the reason the movie is an ok movie but it falls way below its potential. Wait for video.
3 stars out of 5