Small Time Crooks (2000)

67% of critics liked it
(99 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(14,852 ratings)

Thirty-one years after Take the Money and Run, Woody Allen returns to a life of crime in this broad comedy. Allen plays Ray Winkler, a low-brow con man who is married to Frenchy (Tracy Ullman), a former stripper. Ray and his buddies concoct a scheme to rob a bank by digging a tunnel from a defunct… More Thirty-one years after Take the Money and Run, Woody Allen returns to a life of crime in this broad comedy. Allen plays Ray Winkler, a low-brow con man who is married to Frenchy (Tracy Ullman), a former stripper. Ray and his buddies concoct a scheme to rob a bank by digging a tunnel from a defunct pizza place next door; as a cover, Frenchy opens a cookie shop in the storefront while Ray and company dig in the back. Ray's burglary is a failure, but Frenchy's cookies are a rousing success, and within a year the store has spawned a nationwide franchise that makes the Winklers rich. However, while Ray wants to move to Miami and bask in the sun, nouveau riche Frenchy now aspires to join high society, with posh art dealer David (Hugh Grant) as her guide. Written and directed by Allen and shot in New York City, Small Time Crooks features one of Allen's trademark strong supporting casts, including Michael Rapaport, Elaine Stritch, Jon Lovitz, and Elaine May. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Woody Allen
Written By: Woody Allen
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: May 19, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Dec 19, 2000
Studio: DreamWorks SKG

Critic Reviews

Susan Stark, Detroit News
The grown-up's comedy of choice for summer.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The characters in Small Time Crooks are smarter, edgier and more original than the dreary crowd in so many new comedies.
Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
These people offer no sense that they exist beyond the bits of exposition that Allen has written into his screenplay.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Small Time Crooks finds Woody Allen back in a comfortable comic groove.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Alert jokes.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Small Time Crooks is a small-change Woody Allen film. It's also the writer-director's funniest in years.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Not much here to interest to children.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I'm happy to report that the new film, Small Time Crooks, is a return to good laughs and good fun.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
Tracey Ullman is Allen's best on-screen match since Diane Keaton in Annie Hall; smart, funny, a fully-developed character.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tony G

Amusing but uneven bank heist caper with Elaine May as its brightest spot
Anthony L

Really good film, an overlooked Woody Allen!
Jennifer X

At the risk of sounding too repetitive (because I mention it in like every Woody review I do), I honestly don't know why people accuse Allen's work of deteriorating over the years. This is just as funny, if not funnier than, his early 70s works. I like it just as much as… More
At the risk of sounding too repetitive (because I mention it in like every Woody review I do), I honestly don't know why people accuse Allen's work of deteriorating over the years. This is just as funny, if not funnier than, his early 70s works. I like it just as much as Sex, and a little more than Love and Death, and a whole lot more than Bananas. It's definitely a welcome return to form and I'm glad he's been dabbling in cross-genres but sometimes a straight-up comedy is what one needs. Tracy Ullman is a brilliant comedienne and gives depth to her one-dimensional character. S
Alice S

People are dumb.
Jeffrey M

As preposterous as it is, Small Time Crooks is an effective, often hilarious, Woody Allen comedy. The script is full of witty dialogue, in classic Allen style, and keeps the film fresh with a number of plot twists. Good acting all around, with an especially good chemistry between… More
As preposterous as it is, Small Time Crooks is an effective, often hilarious, Woody Allen comedy. The script is full of witty dialogue, in classic Allen style, and keeps the film fresh with a number of plot twists. Good acting all around, with an especially good chemistry between Allen and Tracey Ulman. While it certainly doesn't have the most weighty themes like his dramatic works, it deals with its social commentary and ârags to richesâ? theme pretty effectively. Fast paced and consistently funny, itâ(TM)s definitely a worth seeing for Allen fans. 3.5/5 Stars
Andrew F

This movie is really dumb. It started out okay, but just went downhill from there. I don't recommend it.
a b

I saw this in the theater. I don't remember it.