Never mind that it’s March. Christmas comes but once a year, and in the

case of Reindeer Games it arrives just at the right time.

The film being the second Ben Affleck movie to hit theaters this month, the

first being the acclaimed ensemble film Boiler Room; Reindeer

Games seems oddly placed in the current sunny conditions. Nonetheless,

it’s entertaining, taking the audience on a holiday roller coaster

ride.

John Frankenheimer steers clear of the serious route he took in

Ronin, as he directs Affleck, Charlize Theron and Gary Sinise in this

tale of a robbery gone wrong. Reindeer Games is by no means Oscar

material, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do – it keeps the plot

twisting with a nothing-is-what-it-seems approach, as Affleck plays hero

and flashes his smile.

Shot in snowy Northern Canada, Reindeer Games starts off with an

imprisoned car thief, Rudy (Affleck), lusting over his cellmate’s

girlfriend, Ashley, played by Theron. Never mind that the fact that neither

Rudy or his cellmate have met her, except through letters and pictures.

Days before they are both to be released, Rudy’s cellmate is killed in a

freak stabbing incident, leaving Rudy with the choice of meeting Ashley

through impersonation and living a little or going home and eating

leftovers.

Clearly there is no choice to be made. In short, Rudy impersonates his

cellmate (Nick), and he and Ashley begin a hot affair. However, all is not

well in paradise. Enter Ashley’s gun-trafficking brother, Gabriel (Sinise),

who has other plans for the lovebirds. Gabriel and his band of so-called

tough guys happen to know that Nick used to work security for a casino they

plan to rob and graciously “volunteer” him to help.

Nick, who is actually Rudy, is trapped and suddenly has no one to trust.

What ensues is a wild ride, complete with explosive action sequences and

Santa suits.

While the morals of Reindeer Games seem to be in serious question

throughout the movie, it does have its share of funny moments. Affleck and

Sinise are not above providing a laugh at their own expense. This

mentality, incidentally, is what makes them the standouts. Affleck seems to

have found his niche playing the nice guy in a tough jam, and despite the

bad wig, Sinise manages to make Gabriel the most entertaining

character.

With its revolving plot and cheesy holiday sentiment, Reindeer Games

brings a treat to the audience, if only they were good little boys and

girls this year.