Steven Spielberg's latest release, "Catch Me If You Can," stars Leonardo DiCaprio as teenage con man Frank Abagnale Jr. and Tom Hanks as geeky FBI Agent Carl Hanratty.

The movie, based on a true story, moves at a feverish pace, mirroring the life of Abagnale, who cashed millions of dollars in fraudulent checks in the mid-1960s.

DiCaprio does a wonderful job in the role of Abagnale, who swindles his way into a major airline as a pilot, a hospital as a doctor and even a court of law as a Louisiana lawyer. The audience can't help but root for the clever Abagnale, who even fools Hanratty in a face-to-face meeting early in the film.

Hanks does the impossible in yet another role by making his character believable. Hanratty is a straight-laced, work-obsessed FBI agent who eventually finds a soft spot for the lovable Abagnale.

Perhaps lost in this seemingly "fun" film is the underlying theme of a teen lost in the midst of divorce. Abagnale leaves town in the middle of his parents' separation, but he never stops contacting his father, played by Christopher Walken, in hopes that his parents will get back together. Walken is excellent as the slightly pathetic Frank Abagnale Sr., a bit of a con man himself, who is secretly proud of his son's "achievements." In one scene, Mr. and Mrs. Abagnale pick up Frank Jr. at his new high school after he is caught teaching class for a week. Walken cracks a grin as the three walk away, creating one of the film's most memorable moments.

Rumor has it that Spielberg directed this movie as if he constantly had his finger on a fast-forward button. The result is a movie that captivates the audience for two and a half hours of non-stop excitement, but it feels like 10 minutes. We can assume that this must have been somewhat similar to the life of the real Frank Abagnale Jr.; he did all his conning in a three-year stretch before his 21st birthday.

The role of Carl Hanratty is actually a composite of the many agents who pursued Abagnale. In the film, however, Hanratty provides a perfect pursuer for the deceptive Abagnale, and the two end up sharing a sort of mutual respect for each other.

Abagnale calls Hanratty each Christmas during his three-year fraud spree as a sort of bizarre ritual between a man who spent the previous year trying to catch the kid on the other end and a kid who spent the year trying to avoid being caught.

Not to spoil the ending, but Hanratty and Abagnale end up forever linked in a surprising yet gratifying ending. "Catch Me If You Can" is a wildly fun film, living up to its star power as it takes the audience on a fast-paced thrill ride. My recommendation: Catch it while you can.

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