3. Frank - Safe Men (1998)
October FilmsYou will most certainly be forgiven for thinking that a film written by the man who did the screenplays for such hilarious movies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander and I Love You, Man which starred such talents as Sam Rockwell, Paul Giamatti, Steve Zahn and Mark Ruffalo would automatically be at least above average. However, despite all the ingredients of an excellent comedy film being there, Safe Men falls flat on its face. Mark Ruffalo plays Frank an expert safecracker who is supposed to be conned into the service of Giamattis incompetent Jewish mobster Veal Chop. In a fairly congested cast the still relatively unknown Ruffalos part was brief but nonetheless uninspired. The film suffers from a lack of energy throughout and this is present in Marks turn as Frank as well. The man who was always capable of making us laugh (albeit through his mannerisms) in his more successful roles just seemed flat and unmemorable here. At least Rockwell, Giamatti and Zahn will all be as eager for cinema fans to forget this direct-to-video release as Ruffalo doubtless is.