Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Very well executed

One of the worst movies I've ever seen

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

To start, I am not one who has spent much time and money visiting race tracks. This movie does not require or rely on the viewer being well informed or plugged into this environment. Perhaps the most entertaining racetrack comedy of all times. Joe Pytka's creative use of non-standard camera angles and perspectives, really let's the viewer peer through the ether and into the gritty side of horse racing. The cast headed by Richard Dreyfuss, bring a quirky, yet charming and sometimes seedy portrayal of the down and out denizens of racetrack regulars. The writing is witty and full of little details that will reveal themselves more and more to repeated viewings. Pytka's direction is never better than the scene in which Richard Dreyfuss and Robbie Coltrane use the same lines repeated in succession, in order to arrive at a delightful conclusion. Sorry, no tip offs here. See the movie for yourself, this one scene alone is worth the cost of a movie rental. Pytka also uses a wonderful soundtrack to set the appropriate mood.Pytka does have a few stock, canned scenes that aren't really necessary, but they do no harm to the overall enjoyment and delight when viewing such a creative and different film. To be fair, these scenes may well be due to the intrusive studio execs that insist on voicing their opinions and imposing their little power plays in an pathetic attempt to feel like they are part of the creative process. It seems a shame that Joe Pytka has yet to direct other films in this vein. There is always room for more well crafted, original, and thoroughly entertaining movies. Especially when considering the crapola that proliferates from todays movie studios. Joe Pytka may be more well known for TV commercials, but his big screen efforts are worthy of greater attention and applause. Lets hope their may be some more films coming from this talented and refreshingly original director

Director Jay Pytka delivers the perfect film about gamblers at the racetrack. Pytka carefully constructs the life of Cab Driver Jay Trotter(Richard Dreyfuss) as the down on his luck gambler who just can't get a break. Pam(Terri Garr) the somewhat understanding and tolerant wife is terrific. Dreyfuss plays it to the hilt and it is Academy Award winning material as he captures the downs, mostly, of life as a gambler, who needs that one break to get his life on track(pun intended).Finally, overhearing a tip on a "live" long shot, Dreyfuss heads for the track to try and collect a large bet, and prove to himself, that his life has meaning, and then the action begins.Heartwarming, hilarious, touching, as the film captures almost every character who goes to the track, and the sociology associated with them. From all walks of life people go to the track, it is the ultimate melting pot, where you can wager for or against each other.Like war, this game has significant social meaning, that while you can win, taking the other persons money, while being a better handicapper, is more fun and positive, than destroying them on the battlefield.This film is almost perfect, but still gets a 10 out of 10.Dreyfuss has never been better.

This movie is to Richard Dreyfus what "Slapshot" is to Paul Newman. Almost constantly hysterical, the movie captures the oddball characters at the track and at the bar perfectly. (No surprise there - the cast is a virtual who's who of the great character actors of that time!) Dreyfus turns in an over-the-top performance that somehow is not overdone. Catch a pre - "Sex and the City" Cynthia Nixon as the naive Evangeline and Robbie Coltrane as the grizzled betting window teller. You really should buy or rent the DVD instead of settling for the broadcast version. If you have a free Saturday night this would be a good double feature with "Tin Men".

This is no doubt the greatest horse racing movie ever made. I doubt there is no true horse racing fan that has not seen this movie at least five times. I have often wondered if Dreyfus is a race nut but I was told by his wife that he has never been to the races. That makes him an even greater actor than I originally thought. I have used many of the lines in this movie many times since I first watched this movie. Some of my lines are, "Is this a great country or what?" Other lines I use are, "You can't put a price tag on a day like this!" Another is "God loves me, I'm due". And, "I didn't know we were having a beauty contest today!" And, finally, "I just saw my life flash before my eyes!"