Product Details

• Actors: Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Michael Lerner, Paul Giamatti, Michael Schmidt
• Directors: John Hamburg
• Writers: John Hamburg
• Producers: Andrew Hauptman, Ellen Bronfman, Eva Kolodner, Jeffrey Clifford, Jonathan Cohen
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: August 15, 2006
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FIMG7C
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,737 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A great cast injects energy into Safe Men, an oddball cult comedy about two would-be musicians (Steve Zahn, Happy, Texas, and Sam Rockwell, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) who get mistaken for master safecrackers by a second banana gangster (Paul Giamatti, Sideways). The plot revolves around the hapless pair being forced into a series of robberies, but really it's just an excuse for amusing scenes of men clumsily grappling with their emotions, struggling to express themselves, accepting loss, fighting to command respect, and much more. Writer/director John Hamburg went on to write the screenplays for Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and Along Came Polly, but Safe Men is both sweeter and subtler than those box office hits. Mark Ruffalo (You Can Count on Me), Michael Lerner (Barton Fink), Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy), and Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent) round out the excellent cast, accompanied by Christina Kirk in her movie debut; she more than holds her own as a woman who's far more emotionally direct than any of the men around her. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description
For the first time on DVD, from comic filmmaker John Hamburg (Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Along Came Polly, Meet the Fockers) comes this offbeat tale of inept lounge singers Sam (Sam Rockwell, Matchstick Men) and Eddie (Steve Zahn, Out of Sight), who find themselves breaking into the burglary biz when they’re mistaken by a low-level mobster (Paul Giamatti, Sideways) for the best safecrackers in town. Now two guys who can’t carry a tune are carrying off a series of hysterical heists in this comic gem that critics hailed as "the most original comedy of the year" (Newsday).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The only thing it needed was more bad singing.. Really!, January 3, 2003

By	klownboy "klownboy" (Minnesota - Where if its not mandated, its prohibited.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Safe Men [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A BAD lounge act is mistaken for the top safe cracking team in Rhode Island, and tries to fake their way through.

Jewish mobsters, country jam samplers, sweet moustaches, low quality knock-off jeans, and one wierd prosthetic pepper a great comedy. The movie introduces, but then quickly abandons the cliche'd plot device of the "need-some-money-before-next-Tuesday-clock". Instead it drives itself with the relationships, bent and wierd, but perceivable as real, between the characters. (Unlike the writing that drags around most of the lame-o comedies you see today.)

Sam Rockwell is quietly assembling an impressive body of work. Take a look at this one and you can say stuff like "I was way into Sam Rockwell's early stuff a long time ago." and Steve Zahn remains hilarious even though he's the straight-man in this one. Paul Giamatti turns in another great effort, one of the many that have turned him from a borderline character actor into award winning leading man material. They play off of each other and the rest of the cast perfectly.

The story has pretty wide appeal and I haven't run across anyone who hasn't enjoyed it, from my quasi-yuppy sister to my sports nut drinking buddies. Great for a date night, or just when you feel like watching something surprisingly warm, funny, wierd, and good. For comparison, its in that low-budget gem territory occupied by "Bottle Rocket" or "Napolean Dynamite".

It's a crime that this thing didn't do better, expecially when you see repetitive "funny wig-and-voice" crap coming from the SNL vets making millions. Take a chance. You will laugh more than you did at Goldmember, smile almost constantly, and feel great when it all wraps up. Definitely needs a DVD release, and maybe a couple of showings on Comedy Central to prime the pump.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Stache!, February 1, 2007

By	identityunknown "identityunknown" (earth) - See all my reviews

This is a great underrated comedy cult classic gem from Director John Hamburg (who also wrote and directed Along Came Polly, and wrote "Meet The Parents", "Zoolander" & "Meet The Fockers") This film has amazing acting and comedy and the writing is superb. A great flick that never gets old. Should Be Required Viewing For All. The extras are also great including hilarious commentary with John Hamburg and actors Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn. One interesting part in the commentary was when they said that Marilyn Manson came up to Mark Ruffalo at a party and said "Sweet Stache!". I guess he's also a big fan of the movie. Also includes some cool deleted scenes and director John Hamburg's student film "Tick".
Highly Recommended 5 out of 5

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Brilliance!, August 8, 2006

By	Joseph A. Altieri "Tattooed Joker" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

FINALLY!!! I can't believe it took this long for this film to get released on DVD. Obviously due to Paul Giamatti's new found fame and appreciation. This movie is start to finish fantastic. The writing and direction are smart, funny, and slightly left of center. Both Steve Zahn and Sam Rockwell are hysterical as the inept, yet introspective lounge-singers-turned-safecrackers. But, honestly, it is the supporting cast that really puts this film over the top. Paul Giamatti as Jewish Mobster Big Fat Bernie Gayle's right hand man "Veal Chop" shows off his incredible comic chops throughout the film. His ability to be vulnerable, while still achingly funny is testament to his amazing talent. Big Fat is very well played by Michael Lerner, and Harvey Firestein as Good Stuff Leo is also a scream. Finally...kudos to Mark Ruffalo as the mustache'd REAL safecracker...he is another riot! Enjoy...I can't recommend a film more highly!