Small Time

“This is the story about my father and the summer we spent together many years ago. It was the summer that changed my life.” That's how Freddy Klein (Devon Bostick) introduces his dad, Al (Christopher Meloni), owner of Diamond Motors, a used car dealership in Covina in Southern California. Strategically working in tandem with his partner, perennial bachelor Ash Martini (Dean Norris), Al can sell cars to even the most unlikely of customers—including an unsuspecting thief who was trying to steal off the lot. Middle-aged Al is divorced from Barbara (Bridget Moynahan), who dumped him to marry Chick (Xander Berkeley), a wealthy venture capitalist. To everyone's surprise, high school graduate Freddy decides to forego college in order to sell cars with his easygoing dad. Al is thrilled to have his only son move back in, but when Freddy starts to emulate his dad and manipulate the customers, Al must make some difficult decisions. Making his big-screen debut, Emmy-winning writer-director Joel Surnow's (co-creator of Fox's 24) Small Time is a sentimental if also often endearing father/son coming-of-age comedic drama. A strong optional purchase. (S. Granger)