Woody Allen
Ray
Overview
A loser of a crook and his wife strike it rich when a botched bank job's cover business becomes a spectacular success.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Sweet and the Stupid
Woody Allen’s Small Time Crooks is the kind of movie that makes you wonder if he’s winking at the audience or just forgetting to aim. It’s a farce about incompetence, a comedy where the joke is that the characters don’t know they’re the joke. And yet, like a cookie left too long in the oven, it’s got a certain brittle charm—sweet in the moment, but with a hint of something burnt lingering underneath.
The premise is pure Allen: Ray (Woody Allen), a small-time crook with the criminal acumen of a golden retriever, decides to rob a bank by tunneling into it from the neighboring storefront, which he and his wife, Frenchy (Tracey Ullman), will run as a cookie shop. The plan is so dumb it circles back to being almost plausible, at least in the way that a child’s crayon drawing of a rocket ship is almost aeronautical engineering. Of course, the robbery fails—Ray and his crew (a delightfully dim-witted Michael Rapaport and Tony Darrow) are about as subtle as a sledgehammer—but the cookie business takes off, turning Frenchy into an overnight sensation and Ray into a man drowning in his own success.
What follows is a satire of wealth and pretension, a theme Allen has mined before but rarely with this much physical comedy. The film’s first act is a masterclass in farce, with Ray and his crew bumbling through their heist like a pack of raccoons in a dumpster. The tunnel they dig is less Ocean’s Eleven and more Flintstones—a rickety, dirt-strewn mess that collapses at the slightest provocation.
The humor here is broad but effective, the kind that makes you snort-laugh because it’s so unapologetically dumb. Allen, who has spent decades oscillating between neurotic intellectuals and lovable schlubs, leans hard into the latter here, playing Ray as a man who is equal parts endearing and infuriating. He’s the kind of guy who would trip over his own feet while trying to outsmart a vending machine.
But the film’s real joy is Tracey Ullman, who steals every scene she’s in. Frenchy is a force of nature—a woman who starts as a working-class striver and ends up as a high-society fraud, all while maintaining the same wide-eyed, slightly manic energy. Ullman’s physical comedy is a revelation.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A lighthearted and amusing Woody Allen comedy with standout performances, though its simplicity may leave some wanting more depth."
Viewers appreciate the film’s humor and the chemistry between the cast, particularly Woody Allen and Tracey Ullman, who bring a playful energy to their roles. The crime-comedy setup is seen as fun and entertaining, though some note the plot feels thin and predictable, lacking the sharpness of Allen’s best work. latestnetflix.com's take is that the movie’s charm lies in its low-stakes, feel-good vibe rather than intricate storytelling.
What viewers praise
- Strong comedic performances Woody Allen and Tracey Ullman deliver lively and engaging performances that anchor the film’s humor.
- Lighthearted and fun The movie’s breezy tone and comedic setup make it an enjoyable, low-pressure watch.
- Charming chemistry The dynamic between the lead actors adds warmth and humor to the story.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar crime-comedy tropes, offering few surprises for viewers.
- Lacks depth Some find the film too simplistic, missing the wit or complexity of Allen’s stronger works.
- Underdeveloped supporting roles Characters beyond the leads, including Hugh Grant’s role, feel thin and underutilized.
Recommended for
Woody Allen fans Light comedy lovers Tracey Ullman admirers Crime-comedy enthusiasts Casual movie nights
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsWoody Allen’s Small Time Crooks: A Heist Gone Hilariously Wrong
Woody Allen’s Small Time Crooks (2000) is a classic caper comedy with a twist—one that leans more into farce than finesse. The film follows Ray Winkler (Allen), a small-time ex-con, and his wife Frenchy (Tracey Ullman), who hatch a half-baked plan to rob a bank by tunneling from an adjacent cookie shop. latestnetflix.com's read is that what starts as a low-rent heist spirals into a satire of wealth, pretension, and the American Dream, all delivered with Allen’s signature wit.
The Scheme: A Plan So Bad It’s Almost Good
The premise is simple: Ray and his bumbling crew—including Michael Rapaport and Tony Darrow—rent a storefront next to a bank, posing as cookie bakers while secretly digging a tunnel. The plan, of course, goes awry when Frenchy’s cookies become a surprise hit, turning the would-be crooks into accidental entrepreneurs. The film’s charm lies in its absurdity: a heist movie where the real crime is the characters’ delusions of grandeur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjjTjYtnsH4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukYFKC9vbcM
Allen’s direction keeps the tone light, balancing slapstick with sharp dialogue. The tunnel-digging scenes, in particular, are a highlight, with the crew’s incompetence leading to increasingly ridiculous setbacks . The trailer alone teases the film’s chaotic energy, promising a comedy where the biggest obstacle isn’t the law but the characters’ own ineptitude .
The Cast: Ullman Steals the Show
While Allen is the marquee name, Tracey Ullman’s performance as Frenchy is the film’s standout. Her transformation from a working-class wife to a social-climbing snob is both hilarious and cringe-inducing. Ullman’s comedic timing elevates the material, especially in scenes where Frenchy navigates high society with zero self-awareness.
Hugh Grant, in a supporting role as a pretentious art dealer, adds another layer of satire. His character’s obliviousness to Frenchy’s lack of refinement is a running gag, and Grant’s deadpan delivery makes it work 
. The ensemble chemistry keeps the film’s pacing tight, even when the plot veers into farce.
Does It Hold Up?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZQJMswh9VQ
Decades after its release, Small Time Crooks remains a solid entry in Allen’s filmography. Critics at the time praised its humor and heart, with Rotten Tomatoes noting its "starring" trio of Allen, Ullman, and Grant . Modern retrospectives, like the WoodyAllenRetro deep dive, argue that the film’s satire of wealth and class still resonates, even if its humor feels dated in places .
That said, the film isn’t without flaws. Some jokes land better than others, and the third act’s shift from heist comedy to social satire feels abrupt. Still, for fans of Allen’s brand of humor, Small Time Crooks delivers enough laughs to justify its runtime.
Behind the Scenes: Thin on Drama, Heavy on Comedy
Unlike some of Allen’s more controversial projects, Small Time Crooks doesn’t come with a surplus of behind-the-scenes gossip. The evidence doesn’t reveal much about on-set tensions or production struggles—just a straightforward comedy with a clear vision.
One unverified rumor suggests that Ullman’s improvisational skills shaped some of Frenchy’s funniest moments, though no sources confirm this . Otherwise, the film’s production appears to have been smooth, with Allen sticking to his usual low-budget, quick-shoot style.
If there’s a takeaway, it’s that Small Time Crooks is exactly what it sets out to be: a silly, smart caper with more heart than heist. It’s not Allen’s most ambitious film, but it’s one of his most purely entertaining.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.