Quick Change

New York is the central character in this quirky comedy, which brings Murray, Davis and Quaid together as an unlikely trio of bank-robbers, pulling off the neatest heist imaginable before going adrift on the rocks of Big Apple chaos. It's Murray and screenwriter Franklin's joint first directorial effort - based on Jay Cronley's novel - and does have much to recommend it, notably some superb set pieces from a collection of redoubtable character actors (particularly cherishable is a scene with a hopelessly lost Central American cab driver), a feisty show from Robards as the cop who has to crack the case, and a tailing-down of Murray's usual smart-ass character into someone who has to achieve a cool equilibrium under pressure. There are also some useful street locations, climaxing with a very accurate conjuration of all the hell that is Times Square. Not likely to set the world alight, but a neat and engaging little comedy of bad manners.