The film focuses on a poker tournament—the Grand, as it’s called. Presented like a documentary, we get to know several people: Jack Faro (Woody Harrelson), who used to own a casino inherited from his grandfather but has recently been staying at a rehab center; Harold Melvin, a man who lives with his mother and consumes copious amounts of Brain Juice; Lainie, a housewife feeling restless in her marriage to Fred (Ray Romano); Larry, Lainie’s brother, who seems perpetually behind the curve; Deuce Fairbanks (Dennis Farina), an older gentleman—something of a cowboy—who isn't shy about sharing his memories and opinions; The German (Werner Herzog), a man with a peculiar compulsion to kill an animal daily, bringing along quite a collection; and Andy Andrews, who unexpectedly earned a spot in the Grand. These are your typical poker players… or so they seem. It’s a movie, after all, so naturally, the characters have some unusual traits. It's obviously intended as a comedy (and not an actual documentary, though that might have been clear). I found myself enjoying these people, quirks and imperfections included. There are other participants too. The film shifts between documentary style and something else entirely. The camera work is often handheld, which creates a sense of energy, but there are also interviews with the six central characters where they recount their backgrounds. On paper, this approach seemed promising, but in practice, it felt more like an attention-grabbing trick than anything substantial. I heard somewhere that during the final table scene, there wasn’t a script and they didn't even know who would emerge as the victor. While I appreciate films that incorporate improvisation, truthfully, I’ve seen better movies. Ultimately, this is a brief experience with some decent moments, but it doesn’t amount to much of a film; it won’t likely be remembered for long. If you're looking for a good poker movie, check out Rounders starring Matt Damon and John Malkovich.

Source on TMDB