We have had movies about baseball, golf, bowls, ice hockey and even tobogganing. So I guess it was only a matter of time before we had another one about the game of pool.

This, in itself, could have been a problem, as pool, like it's older cousin snooker, isn't inherently exciting. Writer/director/actor Mars Callahan solves this problem by spicing it up with lots of gangsters, beautiful women and crazy trick shots - John Virgo eat your heart out!

The story begins 15 years earlier, when a naïve, idealistic, young talented pool player finds he has been cheated out of his place at the pool championships by his mentor and supposed friend Joe (Chazz Palminteri). After teaching Joe a lesson he will never forget, Johnny (Callahan) walks out on his past and sets off to find out what life has in store for him.

Cut to present day: Johnny quits his job as a carpenter with a construction company, much to the disgust of his rich girlfriend (Alison Eastwood). As much as he has fought inevitability up to this point, Johnny decides to get back onto the pool circuit and make money playing a game that he is good at and which he loves.

It is here that we are introduced to a host of colourful characters, played effortlessly by the likes of Rod Steiger and the always brilliant Christopher Walken. Support comes from Ricky Schroder, as Brad, Johnny's nemesis, and Michael Rosenbaum, on hiatus from Smallville, as his funny younger brother.

The film follows Johnny's attempt to work his way back up the ranks of the pool elite, which, without giving anything away, I can tell you he does, exchanging wisecracks as often as potting balls, culminating in a "race to nine" showdown that pits two of the best players, Johnny and Brad, against each other - Brad playing for money, Johnny to secure his young brothers life.

Everybody looks like they are having a great time, especially the men. Certainly, there are highly talented actors in the line up, all of whom overshadow and out-act the lead player. Quite how Callahan got all these guys in his film is beyond me. I can only imagine he has some discriminating photographs!

He has written a very funny, fast paced script, but is also on hand as director, borrowing heavily from John Woo and Michael Bay in his use of slow-mo, with a hint of MTV-style fast cut editing. Conveniently, he cast himself in the lead role - I suspect because nobody else would take it - and the impression given is that this was one job too many.

Poolhall Junkies is not in the same league as The Color of Money and Callahan is no Tom Cruise, but, as a way of spending 94 minutes of your life, there are worst things.