Safe Men (1998)

55% of critics liked it
(20 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(2,401 ratings)

A case of mistaken identity forces a pair of lounge singers to pose as safecrackers in this farce. Sam (Sam Rockwell) and Eddie (Steve Zahn) are hapless musicians; Frank (Mark Ruffalo) and Mitchell (Josh Pais) are expert safecrackers. But when local Jewish gangster Big Fat Bernie Gayle (Michael… More A case of mistaken identity forces a pair of lounge singers to pose as safecrackers in this farce. Sam (Sam Rockwell) and Eddie (Steve Zahn) are hapless musicians; Frank (Mark Ruffalo) and Mitchell (Josh Pais) are expert safecrackers. But when local Jewish gangster Big Fat Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner) dispatches his henchman, Veal Chop (Paul Giamatti), to trick the safecrackers into service, the hapless Veal Chop can't tell the difference. In the end, Sam and Eddie are forced to go along with Veal Chop's mistake and perform three separate robberies for the imposing Big Fat Bernie. During their very first mission -- to rob the safe of local fence Good Stuff Leo (Harvey Fierstein) -- they're apprehended by Hannah (Christina Kirk), Leo's affable, deadpan daughter. Hannah lets the guys go, but sparks fly between her and Sam. It just so happens, however, that real safecracker Frank is her ex-boyfriend, and that she's sworn off dating criminals for life. The coincidences, double crosses, and unlikely romance culminate in the bar mitzvah of Bernie's son, Little Big Fat Bernie (Michael Schmidt), whose present is the Stanley Cup -- the actual hockey trophy -- which was stolen from Good Stuff Leo by the reluctant Sam and Eddie. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival, Safe Men marked the writing and directing debut of future Meet the Parents and Zoolander scribe John Hamburg. The film also gave a pre-stardom Mark Ruffalo one of his first featured roles. Sam Rockwell and Josh Pais previously appeared together in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: John Hamburg
Written By: John Hamburg
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 7, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2006
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...it's difficult not to ultimately be won over by the uniformly superb performances and Hamburg's emphasis on thoroughly strange bits of comedy.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Special features of this DVD edition of the 1998 Sundance indie include: deleted scenes, commentary from first-time director John Hamburg and actors Sam Rockwell and Steve Zhan, and Hamburg's student film, "Tick."
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Technically raw and narratively bumpy, this high-concept comedy has all the merits and weaknesses of an amateurish indie. Illustrious cast, headed by Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Michael Lerner, and Harvey Fierstein, does its best but it ain't enough.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Novel and vivaciously performed.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Aaron N

Eddie: Sam this man is in the mafia, he's not going to let us off the hook if we give him a fucking basket of sundry goods Sam: Oh, but he's in the Jewish mafia, I'm sure that's more of like a club than a criminal organization An overall charming film that is… More
Eddie: Sam this man is in the mafia, he's not going to let us off the hook if we give him a fucking basket of sundry goods Sam: Oh, but he's in the Jewish mafia, I'm sure that's more of like a club than a criminal organization An overall charming film that is very flawed do to its style, but the great cast and moments of inspired hilarity make it all worth it. Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn play unsuccessful singers mistaken for two expert safe crackers (actually played by Mark Ruffalo and Josh Pais). They are forcefully brought in by a mobster, Veal Chop played by Paul Giamatti, and forced to pull a number of safe cracking jobs for Jewish mob boss, Big Fat Bernie Gayle played by Michael Lerner (who seems like he's going to have a heart attack in every scene). During this time, Rockwell's character falls in love with the daughter of one of the men who is supposed to be being robbed by them. There is a lot of plot, but its not really confusing because the movie exists in a world that is way to quirky for its own good. Sure its a comedy, but the way the people exist in this world is way to precious. The conversations walk a very fine line between being funny and going overboard in stylization. All of this being said, the cast is quite good. Rockwell, always solid, plays the awkward lead very well. Zahn is a bit dialed down from other, funnier characters he has played. Giamatti was probably my favorite character in this movie, as he actually had some layers. Ruffalo plays a lovable loser type, despite being a crook with emotional problems. Then you have Harvey Fierstein in a movie where he doesn't play an openly gay man. Its a very lighthearted crime comedy that certainly means well and scores few originality points, but pushes its charm way to hard to be better. Sam: Sweet 'stache. Frank: Thanks, bro.
Stephen E

Safe Men is a quirky little comedy, and even though it unravels rather predictably, I can't say that I wasn't amused. The characters are extreme and eccentric, but they are likable in their own way (if you can get around the nonexistent character depth) and the story is odd… More
Safe Men is a quirky little comedy, and even though it unravels rather predictably, I can't say that I wasn't amused. The characters are extreme and eccentric, but they are likable in their own way (if you can get around the nonexistent character depth) and the story is odd enough to attract at least one viewing. But be warned: those who find Napoleon Dynamite to be undesirable should stay away from Safe Men because most of the humor is identical between the two. Nevertheless, I found it very funny. Hell, I even laughed out loud a couple of times. Favorite quote: Bernie: "Chop, do you think you can learn these two where the next safe is?" Chop: "Done and donner." Bernie: "Why can't you just say fucking 'Yes' when I ask you a question?"
Stephen E

Despite all of the "blah" moments that it has, "Safe Men" is charming - in a mentally-ill sort of way. There will be parts of it that you'll like, parts of it that you won't, and parts of it where you'll laugh your ass off.