SnoopyStyle Jude (Cameron Diaz), Pete (Ron Eldard), Paulie (Annabeth Gish), Marc (Jonathan Penner) and Luke (Courtney B. Vance) are liberal grad-students having a dinner in Iowa. It's a yearly tradition that they invite someone to have an open discussion. It's a stormy night. Pete invites over Zachary Cody (Bill Paxton) whose car broke down. Soon, Zachary shows himself to be a racist, religious redneck. He's a Desert Storm vet and a Holocaust denier. The discussion turns heated with Zach holding a knife to Jewish Marc's throat. Pete tries to turn the table but Zach breaks his arm. Marc kills Zach by stabbing him in the back. The group argues. Luke convinces them to bury the body. Sheriff Alice Stanley (Nora Dunn) is investigating a missing woman. The group decides to kill more people being the judge, the jury and even the executioners.This group is too smart to not call the cops after killing Zach. At least, the two girls who had nothing to do with the killing would go to the cops. It would be a better story to not have the liberals stumble into the first killing. Let them be fully cold-blooded killers in a school project sort of way. The whole thing feels very manufactured. This is more of an exercise rather than something with real feelings and real characters. This is something made up around a warped dinner party.

moonspinner55 Group of grad students in Iowa--roommates living in a large house with a big backyard--invite a stranded trucker to dine with them one evening which ultimately results in a confrontation over beliefs and ideals, culminating in the man's demise. Soon after burying the obnoxious lout, the liberal gang comes to an agreement: why not clean up their state (and, thereby, the country) in the same fashion, one Conservative Republican at a time! Poorly-made dark comedy is shot and presented like a lame television show, even though the intrinsic idea in Dan Rosen's screenplay is a provocative one. The students share a united dilemma (how long should they let a potential victim ramble on with his or her hate-speech before they treat them to their brand of poisoned wine?), yet Rosen doesn't develop the ensuing turn of events with any aplomb. Worse, the liberal youths (meant to be as extremist-left as their victims are extremist-right) quickly turn smug and psychotic, losing their quirks and misguided appeal. *1/2 from ****

raisleygordon I thought this was a good idea for a movie. Before seeing it, I had mixed feelings. From what I've seen, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be mediocre. Actually, it is that way as the movie progresses. And that's where the problem lies. Once it loses steam, it barely recovers. It gets off to an interesting start, as we watch Bill Paxton chatting with everyone. Then he gets really upset, accusing everyone of being politically incorrect. But after this guy is killed, and then buried, the movie isn't as interesting (I enjoyed the subplot about the sheriff's missing girl case. But what does this have to do with the main story?). As for some of the other dinner guests, you've got an ideal cast: Jason Alexander, Mark Harmon, Charles Durning. But the movie seems too proud of itself. When these characters are not at the dinner table, I wasn't buying any of it. So, a marginal recommendation.**1/2 out of ****

daniel charchuk Very, very dark comedy with an intriguing premise and great acting. Lots of cameos from various celebrities as the dinner guests, ranging from Bill Paxton to Ron Perlman (Hellboy) to Jason Alexander. Of the five main characters, Courtney B. Vance's character Luke is by far the most interesting, as he's just as extreme and 'evil' as the people they're poisoning. Thought the premise is interesting, the film is far too short, and doesn't go much beyond 'invite a conservative guest over, kill them, rinse, repeat'. I did like the ending a lot though. It's an entertaining and interesting watch, with some hilarious bits (the bit with the lady who doesn't drink wine had me in stitches) and a definite message, though it's neither overtly liberal or conservative.