Three unemployed friends, leading lives of the sort of vociferous desperation that involves lengthy discussions in coffee shops, decide to take a temporary detour into a life of crime in this low-key comedy. Like last year's superior Bottle Rocket, Palookaville derives humor from the great disparity between the cinematic crimes its heroes try to emulate and the bungled results of their attempts. Even if you've seen more than your share of off-beat crime-caper films—and at this point, who hasn't?—this off-beat crime-caper film may be worth a look. Filled with likable characters and moments of real poignance, it's difficult not to like. On the other hand, you shouldn't give Palookaville too much credit: It's the sort of movie that coasts on the good will it knows its pleasant formula (likable losers + impossible plan = tense climax in which everyone learns something about themselves) generates in its audience, without doing much to distinguish itself from similar films. Following The Big Squeeze and other Elmore Leonard-meets-Hal Hartley movies, it's possible that Palookaville may be the last such film to succeed before the inevitable backlash kicks in. It's a good formula. Now let it go.