Product Details

• Actors: Burt Reynolds, Casey Siemaszko, Sheila Kelley, Lorraine Toussaint, Albert Salmi
• Directors: Bill Forsyth
• Writers: John Sayles
• Producers: Andrew Meyer, Harry Gittes
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 3, 1994
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630196439X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #474,628 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Burt Reynolds lets his hairpiece go salt-and-pepper gray to play an aging safecracker who adopts lonely housebreaker Casey Siemaszko in this sly little crime comedy. "We’re in the same business, kid. Monkey business." Not quite, as naive puppy dog Siemaszko is in it for the thrill (just watch the kick he gets when he blows his first safe, and blows the money up with it), while veteran Reynolds is a no-nonsense professional. Maybe that’s what bonds the odd-couple friendship in this offbeat script by John Sayles (Lone Star). Cult comedy director Bill Forsyth (Local Hero) brings out the low-key charm in Reynolds, who underplays his role with the easy confidence of an old pro and merely hints at the real joy he’s found in his utterly enthusiastic and loyal (if not too bright) new pal. One of the overlooked delights of 1980s American indie cinema. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instead of the Usual Junk, Burt Makes a Wonderful Film!, January 22, 2005

By 

Robert M. Khoury (Across the street from Central Park) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breaking In (DVD)

I have been a Burt Reynolds fan since the earliest days of his movie career. Once the top actor in the world, with Clint Eastwood, Burt, unfortunately, made it big in films like Gator, Cannonball Run, Stroker Ace, and the Dixie Dancekings. It was one of those rare moments in Hollywood when a pretty actor and a new film genre fuse completely. And when the genre loses its appeal, so does the actor. In music, look what happened to the Bee Gees when disco self-distructed. But Reynolds is a very competent actor. Watch The Longest Yard, Sharkey's Machine, and Boogie Nights. This film belongs among them: Burt has never been better. He's believable, complex, and engaging. He plays mentor to a would-be cat burglar with more ambition than brains, and you will find yourself thoroughly engrossed in his next lesson. He can underplay a role like nobody else. Yet he manages to bring out the character's deepest thoughts and feelings doing little things that few other actors would bring to a role, even if they had the wisdom and life experience to draw from. Today's pretty boys are 80% marketing, and know about as much about real-life as my house cat knows about the jungle.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Burt Reynolds Rules!!, February 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Breaking in [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Burt Reynolds rules of his portrayal of an aging safecracker in this overlooked movie.It's a must see film!!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Speaking as a self-retired financial relocationist..., March 26, 2010

By 

financialrelocationist (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking In (DVD)

I discovered this movie during the years I spent working as a professional (I'd like to think so, anyway) "financial relocationist", and loved it. (It's where my Amazon nickname came from!) Yes, it's not a terribly good movie, and some of the B&E techniques they use are pure Hollywood, but it's entertaining, especially for any members of the audience who also happen to be middle-class, self-proclaimed gentleman thieves. I was just learning my trade when I saw it, and actually used some of the ideas in real life later on! :) The plot's a little shallow, as the other reviewer said, and the jokes never really get past light chuckles, but I'd recommend it to anyone.