Parents' Guide to Clover

This crime movie's basic framework is wearily familiar, but it gets bonus points for a sense of place, a wry sense of humor, and the clever way it shifts female characters into positions of power. Clover -- the title refers to both the teen girl character and to a four-leaf clover the brothers covet -- has all of the typical mob movie scenes. There's also a tough boss yelling at his underlings (and killing anyone who gets out of line) and ne'er-do-well heroes who are in way over their heads. And there are usual hide-and-chase scenes, bloody shoot-outs, and constant swearing.

Yet as Clover goes along, it becomes clear that the filmmakers -- actor-director Abrahams and screenwriter Michael Testone -- have a very clear sense of this world, the lifelong relationships, and the sharp, harsh way that people deal with each other. The relationship between the brothers grows more nuanced, and their bickering becomes funnier. But the real surprise is how the movie handles women -- not only the hired killers, but also the proprietor of a club and a hard-as-nails ex-girlfriend who agrees to help the fugitives. Sadly, Clover herself is a bit of a weak link. She seems to try a little too hard, when a dash of subtlety might have worked better. But Jake Weber adds a wonderfully weird touch as poisons expert Terry, who helps the brothers. He's the good luck charm who edges the movie into "worth seeing" territory.