I love this movie and enjoy it any time of the year as I do many other Christmas movies. Denis Leary is funny in everything even if its a movie where he doesn't have a big role like the stepfather of Scotty Smalls in the Sandlot and the globotech owner in Small Soldiers.
I watched this movie in theaters a couple of times, but I at the time never loved the story, the characters, nor the comedy. What I DID always love was the great music and the beautiful scenery, and that kept me coming back to occasional rentals. Through the years, I've still loved the music and the visuals, but now I'm more and more enjoying the rest of the movie. It's even become my holiday tradition to watch it once or twice and each time I enjoy it more.
Dennis Leary is so funny and I've always enjoy his performance in this movie and other stuff like his No Cure for Cancer stand up and his stand up where he's talking about Coffee flavored Coffee.
"Do you know what I'm going to get you for next Christmas, Mother? A bid wooden cross. So the next time you feel unappreciated you can climb on up and nail yourself to it."
This plot could only be made in the 90's, and they'd be able to call off the dinner earlier thanks to mobile phones. Of course, then we wouldn't have this hilarious comedy. Dennis Leary should honestly get more starring roles.
The Ref is awesome. There were so many "mid-level"*, "indie vibe" under-the-radar comedies in the 1990s -- just so many -- that were great but underappreciated, and they don't get made anymore. (*I don't mean "mid" like meh, I mean low budget, well written and acted and not wide release like the lower brow wider release stuff that most people know).
Underrated movie not often discussed. This to me was almost a precursor to American Beauty with Spacey playing the suburban father in a dysfunctional family that looks wonderful on the surface. And Leary is funny.
I remember seeing the preview where Leary is talking to the police in the interrogation room and being super excited about this film. Then it almost seemed like it never came out in the theaters at all. I saw it for the first time on video because someone told me about it I think. Great movie.
Fun fact (a little off subject) Leary and Demme were the ones behind blow with Leary in the lead. Since his leading man career never took off, he was replaced by Depp(at the studio wished) and Demme stayed on to direct Blow
a) Stopped at 7:56 'til I've seen the film, so thanks for the spoiler warning b) 'Judgment Night' is awesome. Pretty sure I watched it based on Joblo's recommendation, and Leary is on point and on fire in that movie. Merry Christmas & Thanks!
Two movies I would love to see you guys cover. Both comedies. Disorganized Crime from 1989 and The Longshot (1986) A great great comedy. I still watch that today.
i was so addicted to Denis Leary when i was a teenager. I thought he was the funniest man on the planet. SO when i was at my local video store (not Blockbuster sadly) I saw this movie and had to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised, now it's a xmas tradition.
Denis Leary is great in everything even in a movie where he only has a peanut sized role like when he played the stepdad of Smalls in the Sandlot and the owner of Globotech in Small Soldiers.
Its the one Christmas movie I'm guaranteed to watch every year. The after dinner scene when Lloyd finally snaps & begins whacking the Christmas tree with the poker to get the attention of everyone who is arguing just feels like home. Some of the dialog has such natural banter. Wong? You don't look like a Wong. --My mother was Irish. And your father? --Wasn't.
On its original VHS release here in the UK it was known by the title "Hostile Hostages," which I guess is a good description overall. I guess the UK branch of the studio thought that "The Ref" made it sound like a football film, hence the name change. However when it was released on DVD its name reverted back to The Ref. I dont remember seeing any promotion for this movie on original release, so I assume it was released straight to video here in the UK by the Entertainment in Video label.
Yeah it was released straight to video in the UK at Christmas 94, which is where i first saw it. I always call it Hostile Hostages, even if The Ref is a better name haha. And you're right, they didn't want folk to think it was a sports film, so they changed the name.
For a long time this was one of my favorite unconventional Christmas movies, but anymore it is harder to go back and watch the movies with Kevin Spacey I enjoyed when I was younger
I think the ending was perfect. I love that he escapes and then drives the boat. And the funny part where Denis Leary’s partner asks “When are we gonna open presents?”, then Denis Leary loses his shit on him.
Love this movie. Hard to not look at Spacey now and what a creepy ass he is but still love this movie. "Wong? You're a Wong?" "Well my mother was Irish." "And your father?" "Wasn't..." "Your husband ain't dead lady. He's hiding"
I love it when we're first introduced to Denis Learys character and he's in some rich family's house about the size of the one in Home Alone and he triggers the burglar alarm. 🤣 🤣 🤣
I stumbled across this one at a video rental store and went out and bought it later.Its one of those movies I can relate to having actual term oil during the holidays not all the sappy sugar and spice bs that people try to pawn off.The realism that holidays can be like this parents bickering during the holidays holidays
I have it in my DVD collection. I got it for Christmas back in the early 2000s. There's this rumor that stores eventually aren't going to be selling movies anymore. So you'll be able to either order physical copies of movies online or stream. I'd prefer physical only because you don't have to be paranoid about your movie freezing every 5 minutes due the wifi or your connection and there's no commercial ads in between watching the movie.
this wasn't j.k. simmons' "big screen debut." (6:05). pretty sure that was animal house with john belushi, which i'm sure came out a decade or more before the ref. actually, simmons may have had a part in a feature film even before that.
saw this movie on Netflix once a few years ago! (no surprise Robert J Steinmiller Jr. (the kid who played Chuckie Devlin in Bingo (1991) was in this movie!)
This movie is great. Peak dennis leary, i had forgotten about thanks for the reminder. I would rather of seen the other ending where he showed the kid crime is not a good life but it's still a fantastic movie
They need to grow-up and (KEEP) both ends then IT'S A CRAFT SHOOT. The movie would have made more money. By people guessing what ending they might be seeing at the end of the movie.
Severely underrated, this is one of my favorite holiday movies. The Disney ending is corny, but everything leading up to it is brilliant.
Dad will F you buddy
And it's NEVER shown on any tv during the holidays!!!! WTF??
The ending was perfect to me. And hilarious.
"Caroline, why don't you eat something?"
"Loyd, why don't you eat ME?"
😂🤣🤣
I've watched this movie a dozen times (if not more). I absolutely love it. Great Christmas movie.
“Is there a waste of fuckin’ life, named Murray?”
A very under appreciated Christmas film more people need to see
Thank u for not calling it underrated like many neanderthals would
I love it, and I'm certain I always will.
I completely agree. It's our family favourite Christmas movie
"What are we, girlfriends?"
Still use that line to this day.
same lol
He was so funny back in the day 😂
I love this movie, and we watch it every year at least once along with Trapped in Paradise. A couple of my favorite Christmas movies.
I love this movie and enjoy it any time of the year as I do many other Christmas movies. Denis Leary is funny in everything even if its a movie where he doesn't have a big role like the stepfather of Scotty Smalls in the Sandlot and the globotech owner in Small Soldiers.
Watch this one every year, love the pep talk Gus gives to Jesse.
always part of my yearly holiday movie marathon
I watched this movie in theaters a couple of times, but I at the time never loved the story, the characters, nor the comedy. What I DID always love was the great music and the beautiful scenery, and that kept me coming back to occasional rentals. Through the years, I've still loved the music and the visuals, but now I'm more and more enjoying the rest of the movie. It's even become my holiday tradition to watch it once or twice and each time I enjoy it more.
One of my holiday movies I watch every year at Christmas...a classic.
This is actually one of my family's favorite holiday movies. Love it so much and still holds up very well
I remember meeting Dennis Leary in person at Star Wars exhibit and told him this was my favorite of his movies.
Dennis Leary is so funny and I've always enjoy his performance in this movie and other stuff like his No Cure for Cancer stand up and his stand up where he's talking about Coffee flavored Coffee.
My mother told me to wake up and smell the coffee I did it smelled of waffles.
I'm so happy to see I'm not the only fan of this flick.
"Do you know what I'm going to get you for next Christmas, Mother? A bid wooden cross. So the next time you feel unappreciated you can climb on up and nail yourself to it."
This plot could only be made in the 90's, and they'd be able to call off the dinner earlier thanks to mobile phones. Of course, then we wouldn't have this hilarious comedy. Dennis Leary should honestly get more starring roles.
It’s like the first 2 Home Alone films. They wouldn’t work today because of cell phones
The Ref is the greatest Christmas ever made.
I still love this film! I watch it every Christmas.
The Ref is awesome. There were so many "mid-level"*, "indie vibe" under-the-radar comedies in the 1990s -- just so many -- that were great but underappreciated, and they don't get made anymore. (*I don't mean "mid" like meh, I mean low budget, well written and acted and not wide release like the lower brow wider release stuff that most people know).
Underrated movie not often discussed. This to me was almost a precursor to American Beauty with Spacey playing the suburban father in a dysfunctional family that looks wonderful on the surface.
And Leary is funny.
An UNDERRATED (Christmas) Movie.
Thanks for the Video 😀
I remember seeing the preview where Leary is talking to the police in the interrogation room and being super excited about this film. Then it almost seemed like it never came out in the theaters at all. I saw it for the first time on video because someone told me about it I think. Great movie.
I often spout "Slipper socks...Medium!" at random times.
I loved Christine Baranski in this movie.
"Slipper sox... medium."
I love this movie! One of my favorite Christmas movies!! ❤❤🎄🎄
Fun fact (a little off subject)
Leary and Demme were the ones behind blow with Leary in the lead. Since his leading man career never took off, he was replaced by Depp(at the studio wished) and Demme stayed on to direct Blow
❤😂 this is my FAVORITE Christmas movie!!!!!!!!
a) Stopped at 7:56 'til I've seen the film, so thanks for the spoiler warning
b) 'Judgment Night' is awesome. Pretty sure I watched it based on Joblo's recommendation, and Leary is on point and on fire in that movie.
Merry Christmas & Thanks!
Definitely watch it. It's awesome. I also really liked "Judgement Night"
"I think you hear me knocking, and I think I'm coming in."
Never got a bluray release, but I've still got my DVD of this one! Love it to this day.
Two movies I would love to see you guys cover. Both comedies. Disorganized Crime from 1989 and The Longshot (1986) A great great comedy. I still watch that today.
i was so addicted to Denis Leary when i was a teenager. I thought he was the funniest man on the planet. SO when i was at my local video store (not Blockbuster sadly) I saw this movie and had to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised, now it's a xmas tradition.
Denis Leary is great in everything even in a movie where he only has a peanut sized role like when he played the stepdad of Smalls in the Sandlot and the owner of Globotech in Small Soldiers.
Its the one Christmas movie I'm guaranteed to watch every year. The after dinner scene when Lloyd finally snaps & begins whacking the Christmas tree with the poker to get the attention of everyone who is arguing just feels like home.
Some of the dialog has such natural banter.
Wong? You don't look like a Wong.
--My mother was Irish.
And your father?
--Wasn't.
On its original VHS release here in the UK it was known by the title "Hostile Hostages," which I guess is a good description overall. I guess the UK branch of the studio thought that "The Ref" made it sound like a football film, hence the name change.
However when it was released on DVD its name reverted back to The Ref. I dont remember seeing any promotion for this movie on original release, so I assume it was released straight to video here in the UK by the Entertainment in Video label.
Yeah it was released straight to video in the UK at Christmas 94, which is where i first saw it. I always call it Hostile Hostages, even if The Ref is a better name haha. And you're right, they didn't want folk to think it was a sports film, so they changed the name.
For a long time this was one of my favorite unconventional Christmas movies, but anymore it is harder to go back and watch the movies with Kevin Spacey I enjoyed when I was younger
Good movie. I would also suggest Dutch starring Ed O'Neil. Oh! and Trapped in paradise starring Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz, and Dana Carvey.
Love Dutch. The dent his ring leaves. Lovely.
I watch this movie every Christmas. It's my favorite Christmas movie ever.
I used to rent it a lot in my pre teen years. I’ve seen it like, 10 times on vhs in the early/mid 90s
I think the ending was perfect. I love that he escapes and then drives the boat. And the funny part where Denis Leary’s partner asks “When are we gonna open presents?”, then Denis Leary loses his shit on him.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time!
Love this movie. Hard to not look at Spacey now and what a creepy ass he is but still love this movie.
"Wong? You're a Wong?"
"Well my mother was Irish."
"And your father?"
"Wasn't..."
"Your husband ain't dead lady. He's hiding"
Kevin Spacey was found not guilty of the charges against him. You are creepy for not knowing that.
I watched this the first time a couple years back, i remember one part making me lose my shit laughing lol!
I love it when we're first introduced to Denis Learys character and he's in some rich family's house about the size of the one in Home Alone and he triggers the burglar alarm. 🤣 🤣 🤣
I just watched this one Christmas day, it's a holiday favorite and Dennis Leary is from my hometown good ol'- Worcester Massachusetts
I watched this on DVD for the past couple of years during Christmastime
Love love love this movie.
I stumbled across this one at a video rental store and went out and bought it later.Its one of those movies I can relate to having actual term oil during the holidays not all the sappy sugar and spice bs that people try to pawn off.The realism that holidays can be like this parents bickering during the holidays holidays
"Just go on Oprah and get it over with!!" This is my favorite Christmas movie.
I LOVE this movie!!! I saw it on the big screen too! I finally bought it this year
One of my favourite xmas movies.
This is the greatest Christmas movie of all time. Sad its not on any streaming services this Christmas, and that I can’t buy it on itunes
I have it in my DVD collection. I got it for Christmas back in the early 2000s. There's this rumor that stores eventually aren't going to be selling movies anymore. So you'll be able to either order physical copies of movies online or stream. I'd prefer physical only because you don't have to be paranoid about your movie freezing every 5 minutes due the wifi or your connection and there's no commercial ads in between watching the movie.
@@bryanrizzo9377 The DVD release is frankly an embarrassment. The transfer is non-anamorphic and terrible and included no special features.
this wasn't j.k. simmons' "big screen debut." (6:05). pretty sure that was animal house with john belushi, which i'm sure came out a decade or more before the ref. actually, simmons may have had a part in a feature film even before that.
You're thinking of Matty Simmons, a co-founder of National Lampoon.
You are right. It is not his film debut, but it's Ruthless People 1986, not Animal House.
@@sureshots98 OK. Yeah, I allowed for te possibilty he had appeared in something before AH. Now I know exactly what it was. Thanks!
saw this movie on Netflix once a few years ago! (no surprise Robert J Steinmiller Jr. (the kid who played Chuckie Devlin in Bingo (1991) was in this movie!)
One of my favorites
Best line in the movie. Lady,your husband isn’t dead, he is hiding.
There is so many good lines I can't pick just one.
Love this movie
What I couldn’t believe about this movie was Leary’s buddy in the movie, Murray, is Al Pacino’s enforcer, Al Neri from the Godfather films.
loved this film, Denis Leary was awesome, I wish they hadn't changed the title, I preferred the title "Hostile hostages"
I want that candle hat gor Christmas
Why'd you change the thumbnail?
You changed it yet again! lol
Best Christmas movie ever!
This is absolutely hilarious! A really great movie.
My favourite xmas movie !
Lloyd, why don't you eat me? LOL
i love The Ref. I'm gonna buy you a wooden cross for christmas and you can nail your self to it. ( i know there is more to it, but its still funny. )
best line of the movie, I love it!
This movie is great. Peak dennis leary, i had forgotten about thanks for the reminder. I would rather of seen the other ending where he showed the kid crime is not a good life but it's still a fantastic movie
My #2 Christmas movie, behind SCROOGED!
Also, I've gotta say that I am a big fan of "Judgement Night" and its soundtrack!
such a great movie.
I do remember Gene Siskel mentioning the name reference in his written review in the Chicago Tribune .
ive been telling people for years this is the best christmas movie and everyone looks at me funny
"Why don't you just sleep with him and get us all off the hook."
Classic Film shot in my area.
I have always liked this movie --- so many quoatable lines
Love this movie
They need to grow-up and (KEEP) both ends then IT'S A CRAFT SHOOT. The movie would have made more money. By people guessing what ending they might be seeing at the end of the movie.
Of all Christmas movies, this one has the most artistic and frequent use, by Denis Leary, of the word "fuck." Maybe, that is what happened to it.
One of THE mostquotable movies....we watch it every year😂
This movie gives me a headache. I can not stand listening to people argue that much. So unpleasant
Little known fact: Dennis Leary stole the idea for the Asshole song from a Louis CK bit early in his career
You still say Gilliam wrong.
I thought that was an Opie & Anthony thumbnail
That thumbnail is creepy lol
Baranski was the breakout for me.
“Test audiences” is there a worse way to make creative decisions?
It was good
During the holidays
OH yes.....one more. A WTF happened to Albert Brooks. He is a comedy genius!!!!!!!!!
Home Alone is way darker than this
Capital L small I small A small R period 😭😭😭😭
Denis Leary in Judgement Night was awesome.