Small Time Crooks (2000) Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Tony Darrow, Hugh Grant, George Grizzard, Jon Lovitz, Elaine May, Michael Rapaport, Elaine Stritch. Written and directed by Woody Allen. 94 minutes. Rated PG, 3 stars
Review by Ed Johnson-Ott, NUVO Newsweekly www.nuvo.com Archive reviews at http://us.imdb.com/ReviewsBy?Edward+Johnson-Ott To receive reviews by e-mail at no charge, send subscription requests to ejohnsonott@prodigy.net or e-mail ejohnsonott-subscribe@onelist.com with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
"Small Time Crooks" is a funny little movie, which, considering the key people involved in the project, comes as a bit of a surprise. It's been a long time since I've associated writer/director/star Woody Allen's name with anything other than a vague sense of creepiness. As for co-star Tracey Ullman, while fans trumpet her versatility, I've long found her brash, loosey-goosey affect rather cringeworthy as well. Yet here they are; bickering like "The Honeymooners" in a comedy which delivers a steady stream of chuckles.
Allen plays Ray Winkler, a schlubby middle-aged ex-con with a "great new plan." Seems there's a recently vacated pizzeria a few doors down from a bank. Ray will set up a cover business in the storefront, with wife Frenchy (Ullman) selling her homemade cookies. Meanwhile, he and his buddies (Michael Rapaport, Tony Darrow and Jon Lovitz, all sorely underused here), will work in the basement, digging a tunnel to the bank vault. Badda bing, badda boom, instant riches!
The scheme, of course, is a complete disaster, but Frenchy's cookies become incredibly popular with New Yorkers. In a relatively short period of time, the couple find themselves running a wildly successful national franchise and the Winklers move on up to the Eastside, to a deluxe apartment in the sky. While Ray is content living his usual life; watching TV in his underwear and eating his wife's spaghetti and turkey meatballs, Frenchy has lofty goals. She wants to become a refined member of the social elite, even if means hiring smarmy art dealer David (Hugh Grant) as her cultural tutor.
It's a simple concept – Ralph and Alice Kramden as the "Beverly Hillbillies" – but it works. Woody Allen is the weakest part of the equation, bitching and moaning in his usual fashion, but Tracey Ullman picks up the story and strolls away with it, creating a solid, sympathetic persona and building outward from there. Frenchy has a tart tongue and tough mannerisms, but is remarkably susceptible to a few kind words. Ullman imbues the character with a sense of cracked strength that makes her vulnerability all the more engaging.
But, as good as Ullman is, Elaine May steals the movie handily as May, Frenchy's cousin brought in to help with the cookie store scam. Blissfully unaware that the business is just a front, May chatters incessantly, always saying the perfect wrong thing at the perfect wrong time. The veteran comic carries ditziness to a new plateau; May walks among us, but lives in a completely different universe, a dreamy pastel place filled with lounge music and stuffed animals. Elaine May takes the simplest gesture and makes it hilarious – even if you detest Woody Allen and Tracey Ullman, "Small Time Crooks" would be worth a visit for her work alone.
© 2000 Ed Johnson-Ott
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