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IMDbPro

Poolman

  • 2023
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
4.0/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, Chris Pine, and DeWanda Wise in Poolman (2023)
Follows a hapless dreamer and would-be philosopher who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block in sunny LA. When he uncovers the greatest water heist, he does what he can to protect his precious LA.
Play trailer2:29
3 Videos
22 Photos
Suspense MysteryComedyMystery

Darren Barrenman is an unwavering optimist and native Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better plac... Read allDarren Barrenman is an unwavering optimist and native Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.Darren Barrenman is an unwavering optimist and native Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.

  • Director
    • Chris Pine
  • Writers
    • Chris Pine
    • Ian Gotler
  • Stars
    • Chris Pine
    • Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Danny DeVito
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.0/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chris Pine
    • Writers
      • Chris Pine
      • Ian Gotler
    • Stars
      • Chris Pine
      • Jennifer Jason Leigh
      • Danny DeVito
    • 54User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 29Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    Official Trailer
    Official Teaser
    Trailer 1:52
    Official Teaser
    Official Teaser
    Trailer 1:52
    Official Teaser
    Poolman
    Trailer 2:29
    Poolman

    Photos21

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Chris Pine
    Chris Pine
    • Darren Barrenman
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    Jennifer Jason Leigh
    • Susan Kerkovich
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Jack Denisoff
    Annette Bening
    Annette Bening
    • Diane Esplinade
    Aflamu Johnson
    • Baliff Reggie
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Stephen Toronkowski…
    John Ortiz
    John Ortiz
    • Wayne…
    Armie Hicks Jr.
    Armie Hicks Jr.
    • Harroldston McCoy
    Hollis W. Chambers
    Hollis W. Chambers
    • Cosmo McCoy
    Christopher Chen
    Christopher Chen
    • Councilman Jang
    DeWanda Wise
    DeWanda Wise
    • June Del Rey
    Laurent Schwaar
    Laurent Schwaar
    • Pierre The Frenchy
    Michael Dunn
    • Tom The Waiter
    Robert Pine
    Robert Pine
    • The Lizard
    Lakshmi Singh
    • Lakshmi Singh
    Will Greenberg
    Will Greenberg
    • Secretary
    Clancy Brown
    Clancy Brown
    • Theodore Hollandaise
    Ray Wise
    Ray Wise
    • William Van Patterson
    • Director
      • Chris Pine
    • Writers
      • Chris Pine
      • Ian Gotler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews54

    4.02.8K
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    Featured reviews

    1stevelivesey-37183

    So this is what Hollywood has become

    Everything, and I mean everything about this movie is egregiously bad. An offensive waste of time and talent.

    What it is a forensic examination of pool maintenance filmed in the style of Chinatown.....I am not kidding.

    I dare anyone to not feel bored by this after half an hour and I double dare them to watch to the end.

    Yes Chris, of course you can make a movie with Danny DeVito and Annette Benning and a bunch of your other friends. And, of course you can write it and direct it having done neither of those things before.

    The writing, direction, plot, cinematography, acting and editing seek only to confuse and annoy in equal measure.

    This may be the worst movie ever made. And I'm still not kidding.
    3californiadon

    Love you Chris (and Jennifer and Danny).. yet

    Maybe it was me, maybe it was the film.. maybe it was the dialogue ... that is time that I will never get back. I could not even find entertainment value in this film. Truly I must have missed the point of Poolman; love the actors and a big fan of their work yet this movie let me down.

    Chris, your next project will be the winner. Let's get this on the shelf so others might not find themselves flipping channels and saying the same thing.. that's time I'll never get back.

    The idea of intrigue, corruption, film noir and comedy only works with certain filmmakers (I think Coen brothers) so for now, take this review with a grain of salt ..
    4imseeg

    Chris Pine (with a long silver beard) in a leading role, that just will not become funny...

    Not any good? I started watching this movie out of curiousity for the many SPLENDID supporting actors, whom the older generation will definitely remember with fond thoughts, like Dany DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Annete Bening and several others, BUT...

    The bad: what Chris Pine tried to make here, is a QUIRKY comedy. There is a fine line though between quirky kinda funny and NOT funny at all. Quirky means odd, yet fascinating and a subtle (tongue in cheek) kinda funny, but this movie never reached that fine subtle level of comedy. Worse, I didnt even laugh once, not even a smirk or a smile. I did frown a lot...and sighed a lot...that's not what I longed for ofcourse...

    They really tried to make this turn into a subtle quirky comedy, BUT its' OFF, it's just not working, it's too predictable and because of that quite boring to watch actually. And the many terrific supporting actors (way better than Chris Pine will ever be) those great, older actors only made this movie more painful to watch, because they have all starred in WAY better and WAY more popular and WAY more original (classic) movies than this unforunate flop.
    6SnoopyStyle

    Chris Pine is doing The Dude

    By day, Darren Barrenman (Chris Pine) is a pool man. With his circle of friends, he is constantly presenting miniscule issues to the city council and filming his never-finished documentary. He is the thorn in the side of council president Stephen Toronkowski (Stephen Tobolowsky). Out of the blue, the mysterious June (DeWanda Wise) recruits him to take down Toronkowski for unknown corruption. Susan Kerkovich (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is his girlfriend. Jack Denisoff (Danny DeVito) is his documentary director. Diane Esplinade (Annette Bening) is his therapist. Wayne (John Ortiz) is his minion.

    The story may be riffing off of Chinatown, but the movie is very much looking to imitate The Big Lebowski. Chris Pine is writing and directing. As the lead actor, he is very much doing the Dude. I like his attempt. He's not holding back. He has surrounded himself with plenty of great actors. The problem boils down to the script and filmmaking. In those respects, Pine is no Coen brothers. It's not there in the details and I want changes to the last act.
    4davidwalker-94471

    Didn't land for me

    I think Chris Pine's intention was to create an homage to LA noir movies of yesteryear peppered with a bit of crime, a bit of mystery and a bit of dark comedy. Trouble is I don't think any of it landed.

    The movie looks good. It's well shot and has the visual feel I imagine was intended.

    The plot, rather than being intriguing and complex is an absolute mess, the comedy doesn't land and Pine's attempts to create a deep and tragic lead just result in an annoying, waffling buffoon.

    The cast is pretty underused in my opinion. Annette Benning, Danny DeVito and Jennifer Jason-Leigh should be offering plenty of clout but really are bit parts.

    Not for me I'm afraid.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Writing and directing debut of Chris Pine.
    • Quotes

      Diane Esplinade: And just as music is the space between notes, just as the stars are beautiful because of the space between them, just as the sun strikes raindrops at a certain angle and throws a prism of colour across the sky - so the space where I exist, and want to keep existing, and to be quite frank I hope I die in, is exactly this middle distance: where despair struck pure otherness and created something sublime.

    • Connections
      Features Chinatown (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      Flower Duet
      Written by Léo Delibes

      Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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    FAQ

    • How long is Poolman?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 9, 2024 (Russia)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Un afortunado soñador
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Anita Park & Racetrack - 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, USA(Location)
    • Production companies
      • Barry Linen Motion Pictures
      • Brickell & Broadbridge International (BBI)
      • Catchlight Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $131,000
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $131,000
      • May 12, 2024
    • Gross worldwide
      • $162,270
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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