Dallas 362

Scott Caan makes his writing and directing debut in Dallas 362, which focuses on a pair of young thugs hanging out in a seedy section of Los Angeles who have a knack for getting arrested in barroom brawls (although they magically manage to avoid such inconveniences as jail time or serious injuries). Rusty (Shawn Hatosy) came to L.A. ten years earlier with his mother from Texas following the untimely death of his rodeo rider father during a tournament, and though Rusty wants to go back to Texas and follow in his father's footsteps (or saddle), his mom (Kelly Lynch) throws fits whenever the subject is raised. Rusty rooms with Dallas (Caan)--who is mighty of muscle but weak of brain--and serves as a collector for a local criminal (Heavy D). When Dallas decides to get involved in a robbery aimed at his miscreant employer, the trouble really starts. As a writer, Caan has a tin-ear for dialogue, and the film features some of the most over-the-top ham acting this side of a home movie. Most egregious are Val Lauren as a psychotic Jewish gambler named Christian (he speaks like Jerry Lewis, circa 1950) and Freddy Rodriguez as a Latino crime planner (he behaves like Cantinflas on acid). At 96 minutes, Dallas 362 would be more appropriately titled The Amateur Hour-and-36-Minutes. Not recommended. (P. Hall)