Henry's Crime

It almost works to combine a playful romantic heist film with a satiric look at a local theater company mounting a play by Chekov. The problem is that when you're dealing with an actor of Reeves' limited range and a director who hasn't quite found the art of pacing, building tension, or guiding the performers, it's a losing battle. Farmiga's vibrantly funny, multilayered character -- she lights up the screen whenever she drops in -- stands out  amidst the other players' over-the-top acting, particularly Peter Stormare and Fisher Stevens, who are buried in their own ham.

This movie is billed as a comedy, and there are a few very funny moments (provided solely by Farmiga and Caan). But there are also a number of unintentionally laughable story points (using a sledge hammer to destroy a dressing room wall while no one in the immediate vicinity hears anything was a favorite). HENRY'S CRIME is inoffensive and well-intentioned, but the execution falls well short of its potential.