The Prime Gig

Vince Vaughn stars in this story of high-pressure boiler room telemarketing scams. Vaughn plays Pendelton "Penny" Wise (get it?), a small-time operator who's looking for a bigger score. He takes a "prime gig" with Kelly Grant (Ed Harris), a high-stakes player with a shady gold mine to sell. Prime Gig sets up an unusual tension: you want to root for Penny even though you know he may be bilking people out of their life savings and is most definitely a sleazebag. Harris does well, making what could have been a typical Gordon Gekko knockoff character a little more internalized and interesting, and Julia Ormond does a fine job of fleshing out a character who very well may have been named "Romantic Interest." Vaughn uses his onscreen persona well here--he deftly maintains the hero-scumball balance, never quite letting go of either. Prime Gig is not a perfectly realized movie, but a compelling watch nonetheless. --Ali Davis

Movie Details

Cast: Vince Vaughn, Julia Ormond, Ed Harris, Rory Cochrane, Wallace Shawn, Stephen Tobolowsky, George Wendt, Jeanetta Arnette, Shishir Kurup, Harper Roisman, J.J. Johnston, Tom Wright, Romany Malco, Brian George, Amber Benson
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 98 min
DVD Aspect Ratios: 2.35:1

International rating:

Europe: 15
Australia: M

DVD International release dates:
North America: Feb 12, 02

VHS International release dates:
North America: Feb 12, 02