Small Time Crooks

Released 2000
Stars Woody Allen, Tony Darrow, Hugh Grant, George Grizzard, Jon Lovitz, Elaine May, Michael Rapaport, Elaine Stritch, Tracey Ullman
Directed by Woody Allen

Woody Allen plays Ray Winkler, an ex-con who spent two years in prison for committing an inept bank robbery. Along with his wife, Frenchy (Tracey Ullman), he ekes out a meager existence. Then, one day, he is hit by a brainstorm - a "foolproof" way to rob a bank with the help of three friends. The problem, as Frenchy observes, is that Ray's would-be associates are lacking in the intelligence department. With their help, Ray intends to rent a store near a bank, set up a cookie selling business as a front, and tunnel underground into the bank vault. However, a few problems arise. In the first place, the operation gets off to a bad start when the diggers hit a water main. Secondly, Ray has trouble reading his map of the bank's layout. Finally, Frenchy's cookies are a big hit, and the store becomes the center of media attention with lines that rival those at the most popular Disneyworld attractions - not exactly the low profile Ray is looking for.

Summary by James Berardinelli