Filmed with a large cast of well-known and rising stars playing primary and secondary roles, Carnahan orchestrates this ensemble in a booming action film that begins rather lifelessly. Carnahan succinctly introduces the plot and the players with text and voice over sequences that lull interest in the narrative. But just as the film is about to elicit yawns and cause eyelids to droop, Smokin’ Aces shifts into a high octane gear as a diverse group of natural born killers descend upon Lake Tahoe, Nevada to compete for the million dollar bounty for Buddy’s head and heart. 

Among its bickering bounty hunters, heavy metal rejects and hodgepodge of other characters, the most captivating ones receive far too little screen time. Smokin’ Aces’ cross dressing, alcoholic esquire with a bunny fetish (Jason Batemen); its Ritalin-doped karate kid with a boner (Zach Cumer); and its barely-closeted femme packing a big-pistol (Taraji P. Henson) are the gems in what is otherwise a marginally interesting film. M

April 2007

MoQuotable(s)

None

Genre(s)

Action, Crime, Thriller

Joe Carnahan

Writer(s)

Distributor

Universal Pictures

Filming Location(s)

• Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Los Angeles, California, USA
• South Lake Tahoe, California, USA

DVD Extras

• Commentaries by the director, the editor, and cast members

• Deleted scenes,

• Extended scenes,

• Outtakes,

• Alternate ending,

• Three featurettes

Official Site

Smokin' Aces