Catch Me If You Can

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks

RS: 2of 4 Stars

2003 Drama

While still a teen, Frank impersonated a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer, and chased babes with $2.5 million in forged checks. This is an "inspired by a true story" thingie, meaning screenwriter Jeff Nathanson stretched the facts so Tom Hanks could play the nonexistent agent who catches Frank.

Director Steven Spielberg keeps things hopping and hints that Frank's behavior was triggered by his parents' divorce, leaving his adored dad (Christopher Walken in a funny, grave, great performance) bereft. But what begins brightly gets bogged down over 140 minutes. A film that took off like a hare on speed ends like a winded tortoise.

PETER TRAVERS
(January 2, 2003)