Scott LeBrun "Safe Men" 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 it'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.Sam 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 they're mistaken for professional safecrackers by "Veal Chop" (Paul Giamatti), the flunky of local Jewish mobster Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner). They actually go along with this idea, although predictably they'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.The actors all play this so well that you can'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 who's loyal to the core.Overall there's a fair amount of heart and charm to this simple little film. Some of its scenes, like the bar mitzvah, are just priceless. It's mostly a low-key affair, but is just funny and quirky enough to make it well worth ones' time. You genuinely like the characters - even Lerner - and hopefully become curious to see how it will all resolve itself.Seven out of 10.

humanophobia I don't know how or why this movie got made, and more importantly I don't care. The cast led me to believe this unknown title could not go wrong. You have Giamatti, Rockwell, Zahn, Ruffalo! how could you possibly go wrong with a cast like that? Well, I tried to forgive one horrible dialogue sequence after another but by the time Rockwell starts his romantic side-plot I was ready to smash the screen with anything within reach, I can't remember the last time I ever heard such atrocious dialogue. Do not watch this movie, if you know someone who owns this movie, disassociate yourself from this person and any of their acquaintances. You have been warned.

hillflix The most underrated comedy of the last fifteen years. It's smart, fresh, warm, subtle, tender... one of the best ensemble casts in any kind of movie. just great fun. a lightness of tone that reminds of nnotchka. ruffalo, rockwell, and giamatti all show why they were about to become stars. giamatti is particularly unforgettable in this one. also, the fierstein monologue and Bernie Jr. are the stuff of legend. just a terrific fun film. the kind of movie i wouldn't mind that bad if it were playing in the hospital while i was on my death bed. why not? it gets the picture pretty good. maybe i'd prefer if there were some Paul robeson movie on, or a martin luther king speech, or maybe gena rowlands... but i wouldn't cry if safe men was on.

mmwilde If you like low-key humor and a writer/director and actors totally getting what they're doing, you'll love this movie. My only complaint is that it could have been longer and explored some more aspects of the main characters, but other that that, this is a gem.