Selected cast credits · Film reference
Ebert’s one-and-a-half-star review is compared with his half-star review of The Good Son.
The baseball catch is the primary choice, while the murder and incinerator sequence is also selected. The boat outing, wedding entrance, Ray watching basketball, Rick menacing Danny, Frank’s schoolyard punch, boathouse fire, wallet confrontation, testimony, and garage finale are additional discussed scenes.
Sinister Vince Vaughn, Travolta’s earnestness, Danny’s awfulness, and the baseball catch are praised. The film’s launch of Vaughn’s dramatic run is offered as the strongest legacy point.
Ray’s stabbing and Rick’s shadow appearing on Danny’s wall are nominated; the panel also jokes about the film’s worst-looking shot.
Rick Barnes wins because the name evokes the basketball coach.
Joint Custody is the favored alternate title.
The confined garage fight and the film’s last fifteen minutes are selected as the weak link.
Susan’s miscarriage is criticized for being introduced and then barely addressed before the ending. The police sergeant’s hostility and Susan’s credulity are also criticized.
The police sergeant wins the overacting award.
A version centered on Ray hunting Rick is proposed as a stronger thriller.
Switching Travolta and Vaughn is proposed as a funnier and better version.
Chris Ellis and Ruben Santiago-Hudson are the two leading That Guy candidates.
50 Cent is among the proposed replacements for the police sergeant.
Travolta reportedly flew himself in and out of Wilmington during filming; the panel wonders what he knew about an on-set bar fight.
Travolta, Vaughn, Buscemi, Teri Polo, divorce movies, and evil-stepfather movies are all rejected as Apex cases.
The movie title and character names are tested as racehorse names after a debate about replacing the director comparison.
Cruise is preferred, with both the Travolta and Vaughn roles imagined for him.
The panel questions the depth of Rick’s new identity and why his public life does not expose him.
A prequel about the racketeering history and an all-Black remake are proposed; the other two convicts’ whereabouts remain open.
No Oscar is awarded because the panel cannot make a credible case for any element.
The panel asks whether Frank and Susan reunite and imagines Danny remaining traumatized.
The chamber-of-commerce plaque, Danny’s Cal Ripken glove, and a handmade boat are separate choices.
The panel treats the film’s lessons about trusting children and recognizing danger as darkly comic rather than definitive.
The Stepfather is selected as the best pairing.
Vince Vaughn is chosen for entertainment value, while Matt O'Leary is separately chosen as the only actor giving a good performance.
