AllMovie

Uneven but amusing, this farce follows the mob comedy trend of the late '90s mostly successfully, and stands as the first modest box-office hit for manic television star Matthew Perry after several attempts to transform the actor into a leading man. Director Jonathan Lynn brings his trademark pros and cons to the material, including his facility with a diverse cast and some welcome comic energy, but also a distinct lack of imagination that would elevate his work above a boringly glossy, made-for-television level of visual quality. Always welcome and winning in more of a supporting role is Bruce Willis. Some of the actor's finest performances have been as a co-star -- as in Nobody's Fool (1994) and Pulp Fiction (1994) -- and The Whole Nine Yards is no exception, with Willis shrewdly portraying a hit man as bemused and laid back instead of menacing. Not an entirely hilarious film, The Whole Nine Yards is rescued by some rewardingly offbeat performances, a lighthearted tone, and a zippy pace.