Deal: A Flick Worth the Ante?

Ever sit there skrollandes on a rainy Sunday, pondering what movie to throw on, then find yourself dealing (pun intended) with a film like “Deal”? I came across this movie almost by accident, and I’m kinda glad I did. Directed by Gil Cates Jr., it stars Burt Reynolds. Yeah, you read that right, the man himself. And his co-star? That would be Bret Harrison — known for TV stuff like “Reaper” but goes for some big screen this time.

Now, gambling movies, they’re kind of like Swedish Christmas – you think you know what you’re gonna get but sometimes Santa surprises with something unexpected. “Deal” is all about the high-stakes poker world, which is like walking through Kungsträdgården during cherry blossom season; a bit romanticized, but there’s some grit there too. Reynolds plays an old pro mentoring Harrison, the young hotshot at the tables. Cue the dramatic tension and card shuffling sounds.

Sitting there watching, I thought back to a time when I tried poker myself with my friends — you know, just a casual Friday in Lidingö. I had an absolute catastrophic hand but won with the sheer confidence of someone who didn’t have a clue what they were doing. That memory kind of adds a chuckle to the poker scenes here, the movie brings that nostalgia to life.

Ah, but it’s not all smidigt and smooth. There’s a bit of cliché seeping in, as it does with some gambling stories. The film sometimes feels like it’s trying a tad too hard to capture the essence of poker and not always quite getting the mark. Like a kaviar sandwich missing the kaviar.

Should you watch it? If you’re a Burt Reynolds fan or like cards, it’s worth a shot. Or at least, it’s one way to spend an evening, right?

Check the trailer below