The Ref

The Ref (1994) is a sharp Christmas crime comedy you can watch online on iFILM, directed by Ted Demme and starring Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey. A small-time cat burglar named Gus bolts from the police on Christmas Eve and breaks into the nearest house he can find.

Bad call. Inside is a married couple who have been tearing each other apart for years — Lloyd and Caroline barely pause their argument long enough to notice the gun pointed at them. Their teenage son has mastered the art of quiet rebellion, and when the rest of the family shows up, Gus realizes he is no longer in charge of anything.

Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis play the bickering couple with real venom; Denis Leary holds the whole mess together as the most reluctant referee in suburban history. At 93 minutes, The Ref never overstays its welcome — the comedy bites, but the marriage underneath it is surprisingly honest. Watch The Ref (1994) online on iFILM.