Once you know that The Cooler has sex scenes with William H. Macy, how can you resist? This is a funny (albeit violent) film about the transformative power of love.

In The Cooler, Macy plays a sadsack guy named Bernie Lootz, a man whose luck is so bad he's employed by a casino in Vegas just to spread the loser vibes around. His bad luck is contagious. No high roller can ever continue a winning streak if Lootz is in the room; his mere presence is enough to turn anyone's luck to dirt.

Then Bernie meets Natalie, a new waitress at the casino. He likes her. Against all odds, she likes him. And love changes Bernie's luck for the good. He no longer turns winners into losers just by walking past their table.

This change does not sit well with Bernie's employer at the casino -- the thug Shelly Kaplow (played with plenty of bloat and bluster by Alec Baldwin, who is fairly riveting here).

Bernie, who has sworn off gambling forever, decides to gamble on love and leave Vegas forever with Natalie.

Shelly has other plans for his employees. Will love prevail? Or will commerce?

The Cooler was written by Frank Hannah and Wayne Kramer, but it might have been written by Damon Runyon. The film is breezy and 'wiseguy' in nature and generally very funny. When it gets dark, however, it gets very dark indeed.

All manner of players are in the cast -- Paul Sorvino as an aging lounge singer, Shawn Hatosy as a lowlife, Ellen Greene as a bartender -- and all involved seem to have the same careful mix of humour and menace.

Las Vegas, which is somehow always funny and/or violent just by the nature of the place, is the perfect backdrop for this love story about life losers who make good via cupid. The city is surreal; so is the story being told.

What makes The Cooler are the performances. As always, Macy is brave, believable and delightful. Baldwin is a standout in the role of a old-school heavy who believes himself to have a heart of gold. Maria Bello, meanwhile, has almost cornered the market on vulnerability. Her love scenes with Macy could renew your faith in the movies. Well, almost.

The Cooler was previously shown here last fall during the Toronto film festival.

(This film is rated 14-A)

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