Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- sardonic
- witty
- christmas viewing
- dark comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film's crass, cynical holiday comedy effective because of its sharp writing and combustible central performances, despite its uneven or limited appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The hostage situation unfolds during Christmas while the film repeatedly undermines expectations of a warm, harmonious holiday gathering.
Gus must referee the Chasseurs' marital and family disputes while trying to survive the botched burglary and evade police.
The burglary, hostage predicament, blackmail, in-laws, and parent-child conflicts continually compound within the Chasseur household.
The Connecticut home concentrates the couple's resentments, their son's blackmail, and intrusive relatives into one claustrophobic social environment.
Films like The Ref, and why
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
darkly irreverent holiday comedy built around a dysfunctional family and an unwilling outsider
August: Osage County
biting domestic comedy driven by escalating family conflict, sharp dialogue, and ensemble performances
Ruthless People
crime comedy pairing an inept criminal situation with abrasive interpersonal chaos and cynical humor
The House of Yes
hostage-centered black comedy in which family dysfunction overwhelms the original criminal premise
Movie Details
- Director
- Ted Demme
- Release Date
- 1994-03-09
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (388)
Cast
- Denis Leary
- Judy Davis
- Kevin Spacey
- Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.
- Glynis Johns
- Raymond J. Barry
- Richard Bright
- Christine Baranski
- Bill Raymond
- Ellie Raab
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Ref about?
- A stranded cat burglar becomes the unwilling mediator of a vicious Connecticut family's Christmas meltdown.
- What is The Ref like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ref as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Ref violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Ref as mild.
- What did critics think of The Ref?
- Critics broadly found the film's crass, cynical holiday comedy effective because of its sharp writing and combustible central performances, despite its uneven or limited appeal.
- Which films are like The Ref?
- Films with a similar feel include National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, August: Osage County, Ruthless People, and The House of Yes.
- How long is The Ref?
- The Ref runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ref?
- In United States, The Ref is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
