The Odds (2011) Reviews

• Another movie in a long line where the idea is much better then the outcome. I was really expecting this to be different. I say B-

  cosmo_tiger2012-03-30

  "I think Barry went there last night and I think he won some money." When Desson (Johnston - who looks just like a young Tom Cruise) finds his best friend Barry hanging by a rope in his garage he is stunned. Desson remembers debts that Barry owed and begins to think that his friend didn't kill himself but was murdered and has a few suspects in mind. He joins in an underground poker game to try and flush out the murderer. This is a movie that had a really good premise and I had pretty high expectations for it. I know it was another B movie but I was actually interested in seeing how they pulled it off. The first half hour was pretty entertaining but then it slowly started to drag and was hard to stay interested in toward the end. The idea and plot is almost nothing like what I expected. The general idea was there but I was expecting something different then what this was. I know it seems like I'm repeating myself but I was really disappointed by this movie. Overall, it was OK but I was expecting more of a thriller mystery I guess. I give it a B-.

• Like a really intense 'Degrassi' episode

  Shattered_Wake2012-04-12

  I'm always a fan of any movies about gambling, so I was quick to check out 'The Odds.' I was hoping for something along the lines of 'Rounders' or 'Boiler Room,' or at least that kind of tone. I knew it wouldn't be of equal quality judging by the trailer, budget, and cast. However, low-budget elements don't always mean low quality. The story focuses on teenage gamblers & friends Desson (Tyler Johnston) and Barry (Calum Worthy). After losing a bet on a shady wrestling match, Barry decides to take out his frustration on the hulking wrestler who threw the match. Desson steps in to stop the fight, but they end up getting in trouble anyway. Soon after, Desson discovers the dead body of Barry hanging in his garage. Refusing to believe it was a suicide, Desson begins to investigate the death, thinking it was a murder connected to the world of illegal gambling they lived in. The first thing viewers should know before they check out this movie is simple: It's Canadian. That's not to make you consider its quality or anything, but just know that it's written by Canadians and starring Canadians. I didn't know that for the first twenty or so minutes of the flick; so, when I saw people writing their money as "20$" and talking about senior year as "grade twelve," I found it a little weird. Also, there's that level of "purity" that most Canadian movies have versus American ones, even when they're about illegal gambling rings and teenage murder. Everyone's just about one level nicer than they should be (like calling a guy a "putz" when he insults your breast size, for example). Regarding the technical aspects, the most important for a film like this is the script. Specifically, the realism of the gambling. Why? Because the most devoted target audience for a film like this will be those who are involved in the world of gambling. As someone who used to sneak into seedy underground poker games as a teen, I know what the world is really like. I know how the games go, I know how the people are, etc. For that, the film isn't too bad. It's definitely better than some, but it really shows the inexperience and poor decision- making that a lot of young gamblers have. The one characteristic that really was accurate: Young gamblers often screw up when cute girls are involved. The true gambler still keeps his head even when there's a woman involved. Unfortunately, one element of the script that really failed was the dialogue. There were multiple times that dialogue was repeated awkwardly in the same scene. Maybe that's how Canadian kids talk, but I've ever heard it like that on Degrassi (my only real experience with Canadian youth). Other than the writing, the film isn't actually that bad on a technical level. The acting had some good elements, namely Tyler Johnston as Desson who looked like a nerdy version of a young Tom Cruise, and some bad elements. Luckily, writer/director Simon Davidson seemed to notice his weaknesses in the cast and the less talented actors had very little screen time. As an overall film, even with the few benefits it has, it really never rises above mediocre. Frankly, the main issue is that it doesn't get involved enough with the gambling aspect. It doesn't really show the stressful situations that that kind of life shows. While it could have been 'Brick' meets 'Rounders,' it ended up being more just an intense episode of 'Degrassi.' Final Verdict: 6/10. -AP3-

• the movie was ruined by many production flaws

  rightwingisevil2012-10-19

  there were high school underground gambling in this film, but what we saw was not quite convincingly realistic enough. what we saw were texting bets, basement gambling scenes, but we never saw any paper money changed hands only chips and betting amount. where was the money? we never saw anything tangible only hollow words and look-like gambling scenes. how that moronic kid would have the credit to lose 2 large? if this kid was always with the main character kid, how come the latter never knew? and how come a high school kid would lose his life over only 2 large gambling debt? this kid was driving a mini cooper, dude? a car at least worth as high as thirty thousand dollars. there's not enough logic to such murder. there were so many unconvincing scenarios and plot twists in this movie that simply won't add up. besides, what a lousy movie could have such a loud sound track music that was so loud that blocked all the dialog? the music was just so stupidly loud and if i were a 'lips reader', i might understood what those characters were talking about, but sadly i am not. what a stupid sound track messed-up during the post production!!!!

• The Odds are Dark in High School

  carolbielbs2012-04-12

  The Odds has an interesting take on high school students living a double life in a secret, dark gambling world. It starts off with the main characters texting bets to underage bookie Paul (Jaren Brandt Bartlett) on their high school wrestling championships.The depths of character development really added to the plot of the death of Barry over the greed that goes hand in hand into the gambling world (such as the Death of the main characters mother, the evidence that slowly creeps up over Barry, and the main characters father's struggle with his career and grieving over his wife). Davidson possesses a keen eye for filmmaking, instinctively knowing how to build tension without a great deal of unnecessary stylization and filler material. This movie touches on a lot of demographics because of these deeper character profiles and the ending of the long spider-web like connections that developed because of this secret gambling society that made perfect sense at the end of the movie. I loved that this was a Canadian movie also!

• Realistic

  dougsetter-729222018-11-23

  I liked the story line, the dialogue, the concept and the ending. The movie is about teenagers involved with gambling. They make it look so cool, but each has their own weaknesses and the story comes together showing just how dirty the world of gambling and gambling addictions can be. Great movie.