Good actors -- bless 'em. And a grateful blessing to talented directors as well. These sentiments are prompted by Daniel Goldfarb's Modern Orthodox, in which Jason Biggs, Craig Bierko, Molly Ringwald, and Jenn Harris, under James Lapine's velvet-glove guidance, give performances of great good humor, polish, and appeal -- so much so that they move through an amusing but problematic script almost before spectators notice that what they're watching strains credulity to the point where credulity cries "uncle!"

Biggs plays Hershel Klein, a calculating yet likeable Jewish diamond dealer who does business in the black suit that's common to orthodox Jews working the 47th Street gem shops. (Actua[...]