Die Safe-Spezialisten (1998)

Die Safe-Spezialisten: Directed by John Hamburg. With Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Michael Lerner, Paul Giamatti. 2 bad singers are mistaken for top safe-crackers at a bar. A gangster boss orders them to break into 3 safes or else..

“u0026quot;Safe Menu0026quot; is an overall rather slight but engaging farce that goes a long way on the strength of its many colourful characterizations. It might not necessarily give the viewer many belly laughs, but itu0026#39;s still guaranteed to put a smile on their faces. Thankfully it does have a nicely offbeat nature (thanks to writer / director John Hamburg and a talented cast) that helps to make it consistently watchable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSam Rockwell and Steve Zahn play Sam and Eddie, a not terribly gifted singing duo whose gigs are somewhat less than prestigious. But their lives take an incredible, bizarre turn when theyu0026#39;re mistaken for professional safecrackers by u0026quot;Veal Chopu0026quot; (Paul Giamatti), the flunky of local Jewish mobster Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner). They actually go along with this idea, although predictably theyu0026#39;re not exactly good at the job. Sam falls for Hannah (Christina Kirk), the daughter of a local fence (Harvey Fierstein), and the *real* safecrackers (Mark Ruffalo and Josh Pais) go about their business with their customary efficiency.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe actors all play this so well that you canu0026#39;t help but get sucked in. Rockwell, playing a lovable loser, and Zahn have fine comic chemistry, and the supporting cast is a joy to watch. Lerner is fun as the zesty mobster, Ruffalo is amusing as a lovesick sap, Fierstein is a revelation as the fence, and Giamatti is particularly delicious as the low level mobster whou0026#39;s loyal to the core.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall thereu0026#39;s a fair amount of heart and charm to this simple little film. Some of its scenes, like the bar mitzvah, are just priceless. Itu0026#39;s mostly a low-key affair, but is just funny and quirky enough to make it well worth onesu0026#39; time. You genuinely like the characters – even Lerner – and hopefully become curious to see how it will all resolve itself.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSeven out of 10.”