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Poster for The Cooler

The Cooler

When your life depends on losing... the last thing you need is lady luck.

2003 · 1h 41m · R Drama, Romance
Directed by Wayne Kramer

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Overview

Bernie works at a Las Vegas casino, where he uses his innate ability to bring about misfortune in those around him to jinx gamblers into losing. His imposing boss, Shelly Kaplow, is happy with the arrangement. But Bernie finds unexpected happiness when he begins dating attractive waitress Natalie Belisario.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
78%
Tomatometer
Rotten

In reconstructing Macy's equal-opportunity loser persona as a romantic winner, The Cooler forgets what made its star so winning in the first place.

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Fresh

A B-movie in the best sense: Unpretentious. Raffish. Just trashy enough to be six kinds of fun without making you hate yourself in the morning.

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Fresh

Kramer has gotten strong performances from his cast (Baldwin is particularly good as the strangely likable, but still horrible, casino owner).

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
Rotten

A movie without a compass, switching pace and direction as haphazardly as a caffeinated SUV driver on a cellphone.

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Fresh

It's pretty winning for a long way, reminding us that everything in life is a kind of gamble, and if you don't play, you'll never win.

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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