Palookaville

This Tarantino-lite (reduced violence, less sex, moderate language) knock-off has three New Jersey semi-likable losers who attempt to rob a jewelry store but break into a bakery by mistake. Undeterred, the boys set their larcenous sights on bigger game, and the journey they take--with the requisite struggling love affairs, family problems (hey, this is Jersey), and minimum-wage blues--is fairly entertaining. As one of the thug-wannabes, William Forsythe steals the show as a man who dearly loves his two dogs, and Oscar-winner Frances McDormand (Fargo) offers a brief, but fun, turn as a compassionate hooker. Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman (Emma) provides an appropriately comic score. A strong optional purchase. (R. Pitman)