Like Pulp Fiction or Doug Liman's Go, Harald Zwart's barfly comedy comes at the same tale from a trio of angles, sketching three conflicting portraits of Liv Tyler's grungy femme fatale. Its knowing format makes room for some genial showboating from Matt Dillon (as a strutting barman), John Goodman (baleful cop) and producer Michael Douglas, who turns in a jaw-dropping cameo as a bingo-playing hitman.

Credit where it's due: One Night at McCool's looks good and boasts a nimble energy. But it's so lightweight as to seem throwaway; so tongue-in-cheek as to be in constant danger of gagging.