BEFORE: A "caper" film has a bit of a loose definition - it isn't a cop film or a crime film necessarily (though it could be) and it doesn't have to involve a scam (though it could). Wikipedia's definition says one should have an intricate plot woven around a group of people trying to steal something. Typically, there are many plot twits, and the film should focus on the characters' attempts to formulate a plan, carry it out, and escape with the goods.
I didn't have this film during boxing week, so I'm following up with it now.
THE PLOT: Two aspiring boxers, lifelong friends, get involved in a money-laundering scheme through a low-level organized crime group.
AFTER: Well, I'm glad I didn't include this one during boxing week, since there's only about 5 minutes of boxing in the beginning. This film stars Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (so in a way it's a sort of sequel to "Swingers") as Bobby and Ricky, two friends who seem unable to get ahead in the world, working low-level construction jobs, and on the side Bobby is a driver/bodyguard for his girlfriend (Famke Janssen) when she works as a bachelor-party stripper.
Bobby's boss Max (Peter Falk) gives him a chance to perform a low-level job for his somewhat-shady organization, and Bobby brings in Ricky due to a debt of friendship. You know how in some crime films there's a couple of goons acting as bodyguards during an exchange? Well, this is like the back-story of those two guys. They're supposed to just be quiet and make the pick-up and then supervise the drop, but Ricky (Vaughn) can't be quiet for more than 2 seconds at a time. Vaughn plays an annoying douchebag very, very well.
So despite Ricky's best efforts, they keep messing up while working for Ruiz (Sean "P. Diddy" Combs) so they keep digging their hole deeper and deeper. Things get so bad that when Jimmy the Driver (Vincent Pastore) picks them up, they're never sure if they're going to the drop, or going to get whacked.
With cameos from 2 other Sopranos cast members (Federico Castellucio as a club doorman, and Drea DeMatteo as a club girl), and Dustin "Screech" Diamond. Also Sam Rockwell in a tiny role as a hotel bellboy.
RATING: 5 out of 10 pagers
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