Rounders MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -3

"Rounders" is a term referring to high-stakes underground poker players and Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) was one of them. But now he has settled down to living with his girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol) and trying to get through law school. He has a delivery truck job and has almost abandoned his gambling life until, that is , his old gambling buddy Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of prison. Worm still has the gambling habit and lots of past debts he owes to his former gambling cronies. So kind-hearted Mike resumes his poker playing, trying to raise some quick cash to keep Worm from being destroyed by his debtors. This turns out to be a very risky, dangerous effort even leading to bodily harm to Mike and Worm. And Jo is very unhappy with the turn of events and leaves Mike. This intriguing story will definitely hold audience attention as tension mounts at the poker games, and Mike and Worm deal with all the seedy, but smart, poker characters out to get them.

The enjoyment and decency of this interesting story is destroyed with a constant, obnoxious stream of obscenities and profanities. Worm uses the f word almost constantly and Mike and others spew out their share of obscenities. Audiences must endure over 150 obscenities and 15 profanities. Some suggestive remarks are included and Mike lives unmarried with his girlfriend, but no sexual conduct is shown. But some bare breasted dancers are shown in a night club and prostitutes in skimpy underwear appear briefly. Both Mike and Worm are beaten severely by irate poker players and thugs. Overall, though, the theme of the story is Mike's willingness to risk everything to help his long time friend. And Mike finds some sympathetic friends willing to help him along the way. Hollywood apparently thinks that audiences will put up with endless foul language in films, but we find it very objectionable.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Miramax Films, 375 Greenwich, NY, NY 10013