Sunday Matinée at Market Chess Cinemas

The Ref (1994) always comes to mind in terms of underrated Christmas-time films. 

Granted, this is not your typical mushy, fully cheerful film, as Denis Leary stars as a burglar on the run who takes a married couple (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) hostage on Christmas Eve. But this is a terrific, edgy, comedic film.

The comedy practically writes itself, as Leary the criminal contends with an incredibly toxic marriage between Spacey and Davis manifesting itself even while they are taken captive. This is all some of the late-director Ted Demme's best work. 

As a bonus, the great J.K. Simmons has a role as a military school commander being blackmailed by the couple’s son. 

I have always thought Leary was an underrated actor, since comedy is much harder to pull off than it seems. As a prelude to his success in the FX TV series Rescue Me some years later, you will enjoy watching The Ref this Christmas week.