Beth Raymer leaves her dancing job at a Florida strip club to become a Las Vegas cocktail waitress. Not exactly an ideal career choice, but her borderline-ditzy personality doesn't give her many options. In walks Dink, a professional sports bettor who sees through her bubbly exterior and offers her a job placing wagers all over town to gain an advantage over the casinos. Her surprisingly impeccable mind for numbers soon cements her status as Dink's good-luck charm, until his gorgeous-but-frigid wife, Tulip, starts to get jealous. Faced with no other choice but to fire Beth, Dink's luck runs out when she heads to New York to work for a smarmy bookie, a turn of events that lands her squarely on the wrong side of the law.
Cast
Production
| Director: | Stephen Frears |
| Producer: | Brandt Andersen (executive producer) |
| Anthony Bregman (producer) | |
| Michael Corso (executive producer) | |
| D.V. DeVincentis (producer) | |
| Randall Emmett (producer) | |
| George Furla (producer) | |
| Peter Gethers (executive producer) | |
| James Gibb (executive producer) | |
| Brandon Grimes (executive producer) | |
| Anthony Gudas (executive producer) | |
| Peter Hampden (executive producer) | |
| Alex G. Scott (associate producer) | |
| James W. Skotchdopole (executive producer) | |
| Paul Trijbits (producer) | |
| Writer: | Beth Raymer (memoir) |
| D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay) |
Reviews for Lay the Favorite
New York Post
British director Stephen Frears continues to display an impeccable sense of character and setting in the Las Vegas gambling dramedy “Lay the Favorite.”
Read review6 Dec 2012
Reel Views
Despite the stewardship of director Stephen Frears and the participation of Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Vince Vaughn, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lay the Favorite, a would-be breezy comedy set in the world of grifters and gamblers, is as forgettable...
Read review4 Dec 2012
The A.V. Club
In the achingly inessential Lay The Favorite, Rebecca Hall plays a directionless sexpot so ditsy, she seems incapable of reading a book, let alone writing the memoir on which the film is based.
Read review6 Dec 2012
JoBlo's Movie Emporium
I really wanted to like LAY THE FAVORITE. Not only does it star the one-and only Bruno (Willis yo!), but it also promised a cool R-rated indie role for co-star Vince Vaughn, a return for the long MIA Catherine Zeta-Jones, and a star turn by...
Read review27 Jan 2012
Film.com
Maybe in tackling Beth Raymer’s memoir, Lay the Favorite, he thought he could return to the long cons of The Grifters or at least get to work with High Fidelity screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis again. Maybe he wanted a chance to direct the likes of Bruce...
Read review27 Jan 2012
External Links
| IMDb.com, Inc.: | www.imdb.com/title/tt1132449/ |
| Rotten Tomatoes: | www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lay_the_favorite/ |
| Wikipedia: | en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lay_the_Favorite |
Reviews for Lay the Favorite
New York Post
British director Stephen Frears continues to display an impeccable sense of character and setting in the Las Vegas gambling dramedy “Lay the Favorite.”
Read review6 Dec 2012
Reel Views
Despite the stewardship of director Stephen Frears and the participation of Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Vince Vaughn, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lay the Favorite, a would-be breezy comedy set in the world of grifters and gamblers, is as forgettable...
Read review4 Dec 2012
The A.V. Club
In the achingly inessential Lay The Favorite, Rebecca Hall plays a directionless sexpot so ditsy, she seems incapable of reading a book, let alone writing the memoir on which the film is based.
Read review6 Dec 2012
JoBlo's Movie Emporium
I really wanted to like LAY THE FAVORITE. Not only does it star the one-and only Bruno (Willis yo!), but it also promised a cool R-rated indie role for co-star Vince Vaughn, a return for the long MIA Catherine Zeta-Jones, and a star turn by...
Read review27 Jan 2012
Film.com
Maybe in tackling Beth Raymer’s memoir, Lay the Favorite, he thought he could return to the long cons of The Grifters or at least get to work with High Fidelity screenwriter D.V. DeVincentis again. Maybe he wanted a chance to direct the likes of Bruce...
Read review27 Jan 2012
Big Picture Big Sound
Many years ago I was sitting in the back of a philosophy class in Queens College. I was probably daydreaming when a rather big guy leaned over to me and pointed to a piece of paper on my desk and asked me if it was the program for Roosevelt Raceway...
Read review18 Dec 2012
Screen Jabber
If you're into betting and gambling then this effort might offer some mild interest to you. If however, you're not one who dabbles then there's precious little reward for you here. Director Stephen Frears has no feel for the subject whatsoever.
Empire
Particularly disappointing given the names involved, it’s only mildly amusing at best, and more often downright tedious.
Time Out London
Rebecca Hall is an ex-stripper with a kind soul and a good head for figures in this sprightly but disjointed American comedy from veteran British filmmaker Stephen Frears (‘Tamara Drewe’). Working from a script by DV DeVincentis, who also wrote his...
Express.co.uk
A STARRY, heavyweight cast raises expectations for comic drama Lay The Favourite that aren’t met but the picture, directed by Stephen Frears, has moments of humour and sensitivity that linger.
Read review21 Jun 2012
TotalFilm.com
Casting Rebecca Hall as bubbly babe Beth, who jumps into professional sports betting in Vegas only to find the personal stakes sky-high, this good-natured but tinny coming-of-age comedy-drama is more of an also-ran than a sure thing.
Read review13 Jun 2012
Cast
 | Bruce Willis | ... | Dink Heimowitz |
| Rebecca Hall | ... | Beth |
| Vince Vaughn | ... | Rosie |
| Laura Prepon | ... | Holly |
| Frank Grillo | ... | Frankie |
| Joel Murray | ... | Darren |
| Corbin Bernsen | ... | Jerry |
| Jo Newman | ... | Darcy |
| Wayne Pére | ... | Scott |
| Rusty Meyers | ... | Rio Gambler 2 |
| Hugo Armstrong | ... | Customer |
| Rio Hackford | ... | Magic |
| Al Brown | ... | Old Gambler |
| Earl Maddox | ... | Manager | |
| Thom Sesma | ... | Young Guy | |
| Adam Kozlowski | ... | Rio Gambler 1 | |
 | Catherine Zeta-Jones | ... | Tulip |
 | Joshua Jackson | ... | Jeremy |
 | John Carroll Lynch | ... | Dave Greenberg |
 | Dominique DuVernay | ... | Curacao Hooker |
 | Andrea Frankle | ... | Marcia Greenberg |
 | Wendell Pierce | ... | Dave the Rave |
 | Ritchie Montgomery | ... | Jackie |
 | Lara Grice | ... | Waitress |
 | Darcel White Moreno | ... | Curacao Hooker |
| Matthew Pebler | ... | Angelo | |
 | Rob Steinberg | ... | Doctor |
| John J. Mourain | ... | Herbie Plane Crash | |
| Adruitha Lee | ... | Cashier | |
| Deven May | ... | Bah Bah | |
| John Salvatore | ... | Gids | |
| Yolanda Windsay | ... | Singer | |
| Jerome Katz | ... | Some Guy | |
| René J.F. Piazza | ... | Fat Guy | |
 | Tracy Miller | ... | Guy |
 | Ambyr Childers | ... | Receptionist |
| William Sabourin | ... | ASAP Crew | |
| Alexey Marti | ... | ASAP Crew | |
| Lázaro R. Gutiérrez | ... | ASAP Crew | |
| Robert Hoerner | ... | Back Up Singer | |
 | Michelle Torres | ... | Club Patron (uncredited) |
 | John L. Armijo | ... | Bar Patron (uncredited) |
 | Kylie Creppel | ... | Birthday Girl (uncredited) |
| B.J. Parker | ... | Casino Security Guard (uncredited) | |
| Errol Suleyman | ... | Bet Taker (uncredited) | |
| Chekesha Van Putten | ... | Casino Girl (uncredited) | |
| Regina Prokop | ... | Sportsbook Gambler (uncredited) | |
| Edward J. Clare | ... | Gambler (uncredited) | |
 | Haylie Creppel | ... | Marcia's Daughter (uncredited) |
 | Julie Ann Doan | ... | New York Pedestrian (uncredited) |
| Adrienne Esteen | ... | Casino Patron - Pedestrian (uncredited) | |
| Amanda Franchini | ... | Sports Book Gambler (uncredited) | |
| Emily D. Haley | ... | Bar Patron (uncredited) | |
| Gene Kevin Hames Jr. | ... | Plainclothes Detective #1 (uncredited) | |
| Karen Henning | ... | Cocktail Waitress (uncredited) | |
| Tenaj L. Jackson | ... | Curacao Girl (uncredited) | |
| John C. Klein | ... | Sushi Restaurant Patron (uncredited) | |
| Avon Maser | ... | Motel Resident (uncredited) | |
| Valentino Moralez | ... | Sports Better (uncredited) | |
| Bob Pepper | ... | Poker Player (uncredited) | |
| Roy C. Peterson | ... | Horse Player (uncredited) | |
 | Juliet Reeves | ... | Bartender (uncredited) |
| Rachael Riegert | ... | Cocktail Waitress (uncredited) | |
| Darren Sumner | ... | Limo Driver (uncredited) | |
| David M. Tran | ... | Caesar's Gambler (uncredited) | |
 | Glen Warner | ... | Casino Gambler (uncredited) |
| John Santiago | ... | Beachside Bar Patron (uncredited) | |
 | Jay Oliver | ... | House Guest (uncredited) |
| Lindsey G. Smith | ... | Curacao Girl (uncredited) | |
| Gerard 'Jerry' Lewis | ... | Basketball Player (uncredited) | |
 | Joseph Blackstone | ... | Bar Guest (uncredited) |
Production
| Director: | Stephen Frears |
| Producer: | Brandt Andersen (executive producer) |
| Anthony Bregman (producer) | |
| Michael Corso (executive producer) | |
| D.V. DeVincentis (producer) | |
| Randall Emmett (producer) | |
| George Furla (producer) | |
| Peter Gethers (executive producer) | |
| James Gibb (executive producer) | |
| Brandon Grimes (executive producer) | |
| Anthony Gudas (executive producer) | |
| Peter Hampden (executive producer) | |
| Alex G. Scott (associate producer) | |
| James W. Skotchdopole (executive producer) | |
| Paul Trijbits (producer) | |
| Writer: | Beth Raymer (memoir) |
| D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay) | |
| Composer: | James Seymour Brett |
| Cinematographer: | Michael McDonough |
| Editing: | Mick Audsley |
| Casting: | Victoria Thomas |
| Production Design: | Dan Davis |
| Art Director: | Erik Polczwartek |
| Set Decorator: | Michelle Schluter-Ford |
| Costume Design: | Christopher Peterson |
| Makeup: | Samantha M. Capps (makeup artist) |
| Hayley Farrington (hair stylist) | |
| Adruitha Lee (department head hair) | |
| Darryl Lucas (key makeup artist) | |
| Sabine Roller (key makeup artist: Las Vegas) | |
| Cindy J. Williams (makeup department head) | |
| Production Management: | Jeanette Haley (post-production supervisor) |
| Len Murach (unit production manager: New York) | |
| Haley Sweet (production supervisor) | |
| Charlotte Ashby (production manager: additional photography) |
Companies
| Production Studio: | Emmett/Furla Films |
| Random House Films | |
| Likely Story |
| United States | 6 Oct 2012 | |
| Ireland | 22 Jun 2012 | |
| United Kingdom | 22 Jun 2012 | |
| Germany | 19 Jul 2012 | |
| France | 8 Aug 2012 | |
| Denmark | 23 Aug 2012 | |
| Turkey | 7 Sep 2012 | |
| Poland | 7 Dec 2012 | |
| Japan | 12 Jan 2013 | |
| Netherlands | 28 Oct 2012 | |
| Finland | 9 Nov 2012 | |
| Sweden | 28 Nov 2012 | |
| Brazil | 22 Feb 2013 | |
| Russian Federation | 21 Mar 2013 |
