Just pray it's not a windy day

Review

If you're going to make an action movie about something ridiculous -- like a guy who breaks out of jail and stands on a ledge all afternoon to prove his innocence -- it helps if you don't take yourself too seriously.

You're going to need a higher-than-average level of silliness.

This is what I learned from Asger Leth's "Man on a Ledge," a film that works because filmmakers were obviously more interested in making a fun movie than making a statement. It's like an action movie from the '80s and contains overacting bad guys, scantily clad women (illogically so) and a plot that's so over-the-top you can only smile and go along with the ride.

Sam Worthington ("Avatar") plays Nick Cassidy, a former police officer who was sent to prison for stealing the Hope Diamond from David Englander (Ed Harris).

One morning, while attending his father's wake, Cassidy engineers an escape and -- after a pretty groovy car chase -- he makes his way to a hotel owned by Englander. He checks into a suite many floors up and, after a big meal, opens a window and climbs out onto the ledge.

I'm not sure why windows that high in a hotel aren't locked -- seems like that would be an issue with their insurance company -- but Cassidy just walks right on out and waits for the chaos to erupt.

People see him, think he is a jumper and it soon becomes a scene.

Cassidy personally requests Lydia Mercer (Elizabeth Banks) to be the psychologist that will attempt to talk him back into the hotel. Mercer has obviously had better weeks and gets an introduction fit for John McClain (she's hung over in bed well past noon when she gets the call).

Cassidy's stunt on the ledge is only half of the film's suspense since "Man on a Ledge" is also a heist movie.

As he stall police officers and disappoints the growing crowd below (that wants him to jump), two of his friends attempt to break into Englander's high-rise fortress and prove Cassidy's innocence by actually stealing the diamond in question.

The film twists and turns at a proper speed, cutting between the heist and the ledge.

The heist scenes are fun, even if they reminded me a little too much of "Mission: Impossible" and feature a woman who is not dressed appropriately for climbing through ventilation ducts and elevator shafts.

While 14-year-old boys will probably enjoy the way she is dressed I couldn't help but wonder how much easier her job would have been had she dressed in a smarter manner.

I should note that there really isn't much intelligence behind "Man on a Ledge." The film is quite predictable and doesn't really contain any big surprises. Everything is exactly what you would expect from the trailer -- Worthington, as always, does a good job of being there. Harris probably had the most fun as he hams it up as large and goofy as he possibly can. Leth's direction is simple, but functional.

This probably isn’' a film you're going to remember three months from now. But it's perfectly functional and fun for what it is.

If it's a hit, I've already started thinking of fun sequels ideas. I think they should go with "Man on a Broken Ferris Wheel" and "Man on a Bender." The latter would probably be a comedy.

"Man on a Ledge" is rated PG-13 for violence and brief strong language.