Safe Men

OK - it helps if you are Jewish or have Jewish friends. It's a culture thing. Besides that, it's a good Mob comedy. REAL mob movies take place in New York and Italy. This is Providence, RI. Knowing the Prov. Reputation makes the jewish Mob bit even funnier. Lead guy Sam has a Carrey-in-Dumb-and-Dumber haircut, and has the same sorta "incompetent charm wins the girl" thing going. Otherwise, there is little similarity to the Farrely film. The kind of movie where you aren't at all suprised to see a Dwarf hit-man. Good dialogue. Great acting. Strange tone. Fun movie.

"Safe Men" plays as if you took a nice assortment of Woody Allen comedies and put them through a blender. The Jewish jokes, including a hilarious bar mitzvah will appeal to the ethnic audience, while the outrageous ideas like exploding pants, will appeal to almost everyone. I have never seen Jewish stereotypes portrayed better, in part because of the incredible casting choices. Each character is so interesting, you will wish they each had more screen time. Sure it's ridiculous, but so are "Idiocracy", "Strange Wilderness", and "Office Space". Along with "Safe Men" the common thread between these comedies , is that each one will hold up to multiple viewings. - MERK

This film reminds me a bit like Bad Santa.. no real plot, no attempt to do anything great, but the understatement and unpredictable flow of the movie just keeps your attention. Lots of little quirky and unconnected plot moments that make you chuckle. Put it this way, any director that puts the spaghetti in the tub kid from Gummo in a movie has got a sense of humor just slightly twisted enough to be worthy of note. The wide disparity of reviews, mostly either 2 or 10 doesn't surprise me. Some people will get it, some won't.

When a movie has so much good natured humor and generally a lot of heart one can forgive anything. While it has extremely low production values and obviously made on an equally low budget, the sheer fun of it all makes this a movie that many have great affection for.

Sam Rockwell's well proven off kilter charm is used to great effect. He's paired beautifully with Steve Zahn as the pitiful singing duo coerced into a life of crime. They are supported by a number of equally engaging characters such as Michael Lerner's overbearing Jewish mobster, Mark Ruffalo's soft hearted safe cracker and best of all Paul Giamatti's "Veal Chop". Giamatti is hilarious as well as touching as the mobster's incapable lackey.

"Safe Men" is an affectionate ode to deluded losers. These characters are losers simply because they are desperately trying to be something they are clearly not cut out for. They are basically a bunch of good guys on the wrong track. Lerner's gangster threatens all sorts of mean acts, but ultimately just wants to give a big hug to all. Zahn's character has a strong inkling something is amiss when after years of trying to hit the big time they are playing to a very silent senior citizen audience. Rockwell, the king of deluded losers, tries to placate him with the explanation that it's a Polish custom to show appreciation by remaining silent.

Maybe it appeals to the delusions that most of us at some point or another are subject to. Whatever; this may be a small, slight movie, but its an immensely enjoyable one.

Not your cookie cutter "Dumb" comedy. Just little oddities that make you say, "What the hell was that all about?" Sam Rockwell and Steven Zahn have great comedic timing as well as a flair for understated physical comedy. It just made me laugh. . but I must warn that I've recommended this film to some of my friends, and it just didn't respond to their comedic sensibilities. Also, if you've ever been to a barmitzvah, the scene in the movie is just barely parody. Hilarious!

7 out of 10 "Sweet 'stache dude."