There are plot twists the audience sees coming, and then there is the whole ending, which leaves the viewer questioning what just happened in the last hour and half.

First off I will say that I have quite a man-crush on Ryan Reynolds. So if you think I have ulterior motives to the review for “Smokin’ Aces,” you’d be right. If only we could watch the Super Bowl together next weekend and eat some chili cheese fries.

I still have mixed feelings about this film directed by Joe Carnahan. I really can’t decide if I like it or not. It seems to be more of a problem I have with how the film was marketed.

According to trailer this seemed to be about gunfights, explosions and numerous missed assassinations on the character Buddy “Aces” Israel (Jeremy Piven). The film was in part all those things, but it seemed to have much more than that. In fact, it had a whole lot more.

This film’s plot had more twists and turns then the Marquette interchange construction. Watching the film I wound up being just as baffled as I was the first time I tried to get on I-43 north from I-94 east on the new ramp.

There are plot twists the audience sees coming, and then there is the whole ending, which leaves the viewer questioning what just happened in the last hour and half. I was in a state of shock n’ awe and couldn’t process the movie for a whole day or so after seeing it.

I went over the individual elements of the film in my head over and over, because they all seemed to be great. But I couldn’t rest on an opinion of liking it.

First was the cast and acting, next the plot and story, and then everything visual — they all worked.

The cast selection was superb. I liked every actor in his/her role. But there is a top-billed cast member who has a whole dying shortly after they appear like-billing (like Luke Perry in “The Fifth Element”), but it works for the film.

Reynolds actually gives quite a serious and compelling performance as FBI Agent Richard Messner. He moves slightly away from his Chevy Chase-like humor to a more serious place that’s semi-dark and moody.

Alicia Keys and Common actually did very well both playing there parts and never slipped into singer-turned-actor robot mode.

Piven’s performance, though not stellar, was still convincing. Playing a coked-out magician turned snitch just doesn’t seem that hard.

As far as the story went, I liked where it went. The plot twists and turns, upon further evaluation, seemed like great original ideas. These twists were nice and kept the film from being a standard action flick.

It did take some talking with another screener to make sure we caught every small bit of information, but what’s 30 minutes of discussion in a theater lobby when there is a film’s reputation on the line?

Last there is the visual style of the film. I liked it. Some scenes are just jaw-dropping and amazing. The main action sequence was one of the best I’ve seen in years.

So why do I still fell like this movie didn’t quite work out? It’s like having all the best gourmet ingredients for a cake and yet the cake tasted horrible.

My overall opinion of this film is really: It is what it is. I encourage people to see it yet want no repercussion if they hate it.

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