Generally I don’t get all charged up by a “cop-and-robber” movie. If you’ve seen one handsome Billy-the-Kid chased by the rugged but sometimes bungling sheriff type, then you’ve seen most everything in the western or shoot-em-up category as far as I’m concerned. If I’m going to watch a happily-ever-after genre, then I’ll just stick with horror films where the heads roll and the bad guy returns for a second and third crack at the teenage idiots who open the doors for anybody. At least, you know that the happy sap at the end with unravel in the next episode and then be happy days once again and then again and again.

I got roped into watching Catch Me If You Can as a last-day-of-school seafood and video fest. I didn’t know a thing about it and didn’t care. By the time I made cupcakes and tried to match the school color blue which never really happened and then stopped to get gas where my kid got a face full of fuel and the ambulance had to come out to the Etna station to check that out, well . . . run anything on the DVD and let me catch my breath and sanity.

Fortunately, this was a good relaxing movie that drew me in and let me unwind from a day of bad breaks including dropping my emerald ring somewhere between the gas-in-the-eyes incident (which turned out OK since I had the presence of mind to stick his head in the sink immediately) and stepping on the cat (who got over it). If a movie could catch my attention after all that and especially in a category I don’t usually go for, then it’s a heck of a good one.

Frank Abagnale, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is 16 years old, and his world is falling apart. His dad (Christopher Walken) gets popped by the IRS, which means that the family goes from living the good life to dirt poor. Back in the 60s, you didn’t keep your big house when you screwed up. To add insult to injury, Mom cuts out with a good buddy of her husband, since buddy guy still has bucks unlike the guy she married and loved until he went broke. Frank Jr. has to sign to live with his mom or with his dad on the divorce papers, so he just cuts and runs. First, he needs a few bucks just to eat. Then, he figures out that he’s smart enough to get enough cash to maybe help his dad win his mom back. No. It’s not real sensible. This is a kid doing the planning and plotting. He picks his names from comic books for goodness sakes.

Frank Jr. is a whiz kid, and even if he can’t fix the family problems, he can play the world by writing bad checks and then posing as an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer. Sweet talking women goes a long way. He checks in with dad from time to time (never explaining how he’s running cons) and hopes to shore his dad enough to get him to fight for his woman—Frank’s mom. This seems to be a common kid wish but not one that most can try to sort out at least with money.

If this whole thing was small potatoes, then Frank Jr. might slide through, but he’s raking in over a million dollars. Naturally the FBI has to get hot on this kid who is gaming the whole world. The almost washed-up Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) tails Frank Jr. but is always a few steps behind. If he could just nab this kid who is on the most wanted list, then Hanratty might move up in the organization. The thing is that Hanratty comes to like the kid who calls him every Christmas eve and makes every effort to be caught as long as it’s a fair bust.

If it all sounds like Hollywood, then think again. This one is based on a true story. My guess is that the actual story is better than the movie, but I’ve not seen anything on this unusual true crime case. It’s simply amazing that a kid of this age could have done all the things that Frank Jr. did. The movie is based on an autobiography written by Frank Jr., but apparently the book does not really pick up the family theme lines. It was written in 1980 and has been re-released with a Q&A at the end, which also does not shed much light on the real story according to reviews I’ve seen. I’d love to read about the story, but if the book is all about his crime spree and not about what shaped and inspired this young man, then I don’t see much point in digging in and taking time to read that.

Since Steven Spielberg directed the movie and fleshed out some of the background, this story is getting a lot of attention. It is a fabulous story, and I recommend the film even though I’m not a Spielberg fan. Don’t look for space ships and all kinds of special effects in this one. Frankly, I’m glad that it isn’t all about what he can manipulate in the editing room. A really good story doesn’t need those bells and whistles. If I want eye candy, then I’ll go see fireworks on the 4th of July.

Right now, this is out with two CDs. I checked that out but opted not to watch the added CD. I don’t really care how they made the movie. It works and I like it. That’s enough. A story this interesting can be packaged and sold with all kinds of extras, but I don’t have to buy into all that. Give me a show and a good one like this, and that’s all I want on a bad day when I want to kick back and be entertained. All the rest is just hype.

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My friend and one of my favorite writers, Patsy with reviews at http://www.epinions.com/user-patsyv, added this link in comments:

http://www.abagnale.com/facomments.html

Be sure to check out the statement by Frank Jr. It’s interesting to see his thoughts on his life and on the movie. He sounds like a really nice guy (-:



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD