Two former thieves reunite to rob the biggest thief they know -- Moctesuma Valdez, a TV infomercial guru who's made millions selling worthless health products to poor Latino immigrants. When none of their affiliates want to go undercover as day laborers to pull off the heist, the two men turn to the real thing for help. - skip ad - Genres: Action/Adventure Running Time: 1 hr. 39 min. Release Date: August 31st, 2007 (limited) MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and some sexual content. Distributor: Lionsgate Cast And Credits Starring: Fernando Colunga, Miguel Varoni, JoJo Henrickson, Ivonne Montero , Julie Gonzalo Directed by: Joe Menendez Produced by: Roni Eguia, James M. McNamara, Ben Odell

Like “Ocean’s Eleven,” if directed by Robin Hood and financed by Telemundo, “Ladrón Que Roba a Ladrón” is an effervescent comedy coasting on the charisma of its stars.

Our Danny Ocean is Emilio (Miguel Varoni), a smooth thief with a hidden agenda. Together with his exuberantly coiffed partner, Alejandro (Fernando Colunga), Emilio plans to rob a Los Angeles infomercial king named Valdez (Saúl Lisazo), who has made his fortune by selling snake-oil remedies to poor Latino immigrants.

The duo’s complicated scheme requires a crew acting as day laborers, but their regular accomplices have either been deported or imprisoned. Cue the zany recruitment montage.

Directed by Joe Menendez and written by José Angel Henrickson, “Ladrón Que Roba a Ladrón” (“A Thief Who Robs a Thief”) hews to the conventions of the heist movie while adding a sweet, karmic kick. Forced to hire authentic day laborers — a valet parker to do the driving, a television repairman to handle electronics — Emilio and Alejandro create a gang that’s as much a microcosm of immigrant aspiration as an instrument of blue-collar revenge.

In one brilliantly funny scene, a Cuban refugee and actor (Oscar Torre) poses as a union organizer to persuade Valdez’s staff members to strike. When they ask which union they will be joining, the actor knows only one.

“SAG!,” he yells triumphantly. He may be an amateur criminal but he’s a professional survivor.

“Ladrón Que Roba a Ladrón” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). Characters steal, spoon, swear and take Tom Hanks’s name in vain.