Review: Derivative, sure, but ‘Clover’ makes its Martin Scorsese/Quentin Tarantino moves work

In the crime dramedy “Clover,� the title refers to a teenage girl (played by Nicole Elizabeth Berger), who gets caught between some bumbling mob enforcers and a man who owes them money. When a bad situation takes a turn for the worse, Clover finds herself on the run with two well-meaning goons: the bickering brothers Jackie and Mickey, played by Mark Webber and Jon Abrahams.

Abrahams also directed “Clover,� from a Michael Testone script. The filmmakers don’t disguise their influences. “Clover� draws on the long tradition of gangland farce, combined with a lot of shtick borrowed from Scorsese and Tarantino. From the occasional flashy camera angles to a soundtrack peppered with deep-cut R&B songs, this movie slots right into some well-worn grooves.

And yet it mostly works, thanks to an ace cast and a story that springs a few surprises. The plot follows a pretty straight line, as Clover and the brothers call in favors across the underworld, while ducking a vengeful boss. Along the way they cross paths with eccentric characters played by some terrific actors, including Tichina Arnold as a straight-talking “fixer,� Jake Weber as a mentally ill criminal genius, and Erika Christensen and Julia Jones as mysterious assassins.

Mostly though, “Clover� relies on the chemistry between Abrahams and Webber, as an irascible pair of losers who prove unexpectedly resourceful. These two don’t act like they’re in a derivative mob movie. They genuinely seem like they’re just trying to make it to the end of a really, really bad day at work.