One Night at McCool’s Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A woman uses her allure to make three men ruin their lives for her, but really it’s all about getting a nice DVD player and a big TV.

🍿 One Night at McCool’s: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction and Randy’s Encounter

The film unfolds through the perspectives of three men: Randy, Carl, and Detective Dehling, each recounting their experiences with the seductive Jewel. Randy, a bartender at McCool’s, meets Jewel one night and believes he rescues her from her abusive boyfriend, Utah. This encounter sets off a chain of events that dramatically alters his life.

Jewel’s Manipulations and Crimes

Jewel quickly moves in with Randy and begins manipulating him to commit crimes to fund her extravagant lifestyle. She drives him to rob his former boss and scam others, all while managing to evade suspicion and maintain her image as a damsel in distress. Randy becomes increasingly desperate as he loses control of his life and possessions.

Carl and Dehling’s Obsessions

Randy’s cousin, Carl, a lawyer, becomes infatuated with Jewel and begins to neglect his family. Detective Dehling, investigating Utah’s death and subsequent robberies, also falls under Jewel’s spell, seeing her as a replacement for his deceased wife. Both men are blinded by their desires and manipulated by Jewel to serve her needs.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jewel (Liv Tyler): The manipulative femme fatale who seduces and deceives multiple men to achieve her materialistic desires.
• Randy (Matt Dillon): The naive bartender who becomes entangled in Jewel’s web of deceit and crime.
• Carl (Paul Reiser): Randy’s cousin and a sleazy lawyer who is infatuated with Jewel and willing to betray his marriage.
• Detective Dehling (John Goodman): The widowed detective investigating Utah’s death who develops an obsession with Jewel.
• Mr. Burmeister (Michael Douglas): The bingo-playing hitman hired by Randy to kill Jewel, but he is ultimately seduced by her.
• Utah/Elmo (Andrew Dice Clay): Jewel’s abusive boyfriend/twin brother of Utah, who adds fuel to the chaos and shootout.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Randy: “The sex and the violence, all in one night – it’s a little much.” – Randy’s initial reaction after Jewel moves in with him following the shooting at McCool’s.
• Mr. Burmeister: “No, but I kill people.” – Burmeister’s response when Randy asks if he trusts him after showing him the money.
• Randy: “There’s the ten-thousand dollars… well, aren’t you gonna count it?” – Randy’s question to Mr. Burmeister, whom he has hired as a contract killer.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $18,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $6,290,673
• Worldwide Gross: $13,578,186

💥 One Night at McCool’s Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this in college and being completely taken in by Liv Tyler’s performance. She was so magnetic! The way the story is told from different perspectives is clever and adds a layer of humor. I think it has an unexpected ending. It really made me think about how much we project onto the people we’re attracted to. Definitely a fun watch!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of black comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy quirky crime films”
  • “Those interested in films with unreliable narrators”
  • “Liv Tyler fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Violence”
  • “Brief nudity”

Professional Reviews

• Blake French: “”One Night at McCool’s” is a dark comedy about the power of women over men. The film captures a specific humorous truth, even if it is often perplexing. The actors have a lot of fun with their characters and the movie perceives the three different chronicles. This is one of the few black comedies that actually work.
• N/A: “One Night at McCool’s is a very funny movie that is more intelligent than what it should be. The thoughts behind the movie (mysogeny, sadism, stupid men) are are infantile. It doesn’t have any sympathy for any of the men, really. The story is therefore always perverted by their own self images and altered realities. The form has the first 2/3 of the movie told in flashback by three characters
• N/A: “This is a very good black comedy, with a great view on how different people have a different perception of the same situations. The three main characters each met a girl named Jewel, played by Liv Tyler, who is a different male fantasy for each of the three men. The plot is very good, very bizarre and extreme, which makes it a good black comedy.

Audience Reactions

Liv Tyler’s performance is captivating and unforgettable.: Viewers generally praise the film’s dark humor and the way it explores male fantasies.

The multiple perspectives create a unique and engaging viewing experience.: Many appreciate the Rashomon-style storytelling and the film’s exploration of different viewpoints.

Overall Consensus: A dark comedy with standout performances, but its humor may not appeal to everyone.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Harald Zwart, known for commercials and music videos, made his feature film directorial debut with this movie.”
• “The film is told from three different points of view, with the same story perceived differently by each character.”
• “The film is the first to come from Michael Douglas’s new production company, Furthur Films.”
• “Andrew Dice Clay is billed twice in the closing credits as Andrew Silverstein, once as Utah and later as Elmo.”

🖥️ How to Watch One Night at McCool’s?

Currently, ‘One Night at McCool’s’ is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability as it may vary by region. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray can also be found through online retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed One Night at McCool’s, you might like these similar films:

• There’s Something About Mary (1998): Similar plot with different men falling for the same woman, and Matt Dillon and Richard Jenkins are in both films.
• American Beauty (1999): Explores dark comedy themes with different character perspectives.
• Nurse Betty (2000): Features dark comedy elements with a quirky and unusual plot.
• Very Bad Things (1998): Shares the crime and dark humor elements with a focus on disastrous events.

🛒 One Night at McCool’s Related Products

• One Night at McCool’s [DVD]: Own the dark comedy on DVD and relive the hilarious, twisted tale of Jewel and the men she bewitches.
• Liv Tyler Poster: Adorn your wall with a glossy print of Liv Tyler from One Night at McCool’s. This poster will bring iconic style to any fan’s collection.
• Liv Tyler – Empire Records T-Shirt: Celebrate the classic 90’s movie and one of Liv Tyler’s break-through roles. This shirt will bring iconic style to any fan’s collection.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Office Space – Michael Bolton: Bring home the funko pop and watch the hilarious comedy with Michael Bolton! This shirt will bring iconic style to any fan’s collection.

🎧 Soundtrack

One Night at McCool’s features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Wanted Man” – performed by Johnny Cash

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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