Review: Ice Harvest (B-)

Ice Harvest (2005)
Directed by Harold Ramis
Starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen and Oliver Platt
MPAA:R
Grade: B-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

Harold Ramis has a very good track record when it comes to comedy. Groundhog Day is perhaps one of the most underrated comedies of all time. Caddyshack is a classic and National Lampoon's Vacation is one of the most popular comedies of our era. Obviously, the gentleman knows comedy.

That's why Ice Harvest is a little unusual. This is a different type of Harold Ramis feature. It's a bit methodical, and it feels more like a Coen brothers film than your standard Ramis fare. Does this film noir/comedy style work? In a way, yes. At times, it is clever. However, for a black comedy, I was expecting the laughs to be deeper, and the dramatic punches to hit harder. Ultimately, this an uneven film with likable stars. Your take on it will depend on how you feel about Cusack and Thornton.

The story behind Ice Harvest is a little predictable. Billy Bob Thornton and John Cusack steal two million dollars from the mob, but due to an ice storm, they are trapped in town for one last night. They guzzle booze, try to stay away from the mob and hope to make a getaway. But things get complicated as the night wears on.

Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade, Monster's Ball, The Man Who Wasn't There) and John Cusack (Must Love Dogs, High Fidelity, Sure Thing) do decent turns here, but the lackluster script keeps the Ice Harvest from taking full flight. Ice Harvest is an average little black comedy, but when you consider all of the talent on board, it's surprising that the film doesn't hit harder.

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