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In 1972 a gang of thieves led by a guy with a political grudge against President Nixon made away with millions in illegal slush funds that had been parked in a California bank vault by the Nixon campaign. The break-in, and the subsequent FBI manhunt for the robbers, forms the basis of the new comedic heist film "Finding Steve McQueen." Just to allay any confusion, this one's not actually about the tough-guy actor whose suave anti-hero persona ruled the big screen throughout the 1960s and 70s - but the McQueen vibe provides a through-line as our lead adopts his name and likeness as a defense while on the run. Steve McQueen's trademark cool and his love of fast cars provides respite for Harry Barber, a man on the lam, and sets the aesthetic tone for this sweet, spirited caper film.

"Finding Steve McQueen" takes a nonlinear approach to its story, so we learn that Harry (Travis Fimmel, Vikings) is on the run from the law well before we get details on his actual crime. What we do learn up front is that Harry loves 70s muscle cars - in the opening he's pulled over by a cop who berates him for speeding then compliments the sleek Mustang he's driving - and he actually does carry an ID in the name of "Steve McQueen." We hear all of this as Harry is nervously attempting to come clean to his girlfriend Molly (Rachael Taylor, Jessica Jones), who's understandably concerned when he tells her, over a pile of desserts at a local diner, "I'm not who you think I am."

So who is he? Flashbacks tell us he's an unassuming kid who's drafted into a criminal gang run by his Uncle Enzo (William Fichtner, "12 Strong") because of his way behind the wheel. Enzo's pretty mild-mannered until he gets onto the subject of President Nixon; then he reveals a grudge a mile wide that leads to a wildly ambitious scheme to steal Nixon's ill-gotten re-election campaign funds from a small bank in a laid-back coastal CA town. Also in on the scheme is Harry's shell-shocked Vietnam vet brother Tommy (Jake Weary, Animal Kingdom) and affable burglars Ray (Rhys Coiro, The Walking Dead) and Paulie (Louis Lombardi, Mob City). They're an oddball bunch, but they sure are motivated.

Part of the enjoyment in a film like this is seeing scheme laid out and then watching how it works - or doesn't - so it wouldn't pay to say too much about the heist itself, or about how FBI agents Lambert (Forest Whitaker, "Black Panther") and Price (Lily Rabe, Vice) get into the mix. Better to note the way "Finding Steve McQueen" approaches this material, with an effective touch of stagey self-awareness that puts a fun, lightly farcical spin on the action. It's not a rollicking comedy but it's funny throughout, with a cast that works well together and puts their heart into the proceedings.

Kudos "McQueen's" production designer and the folks in charge of costumes; they fully commit to the 70s aesthetic, with results that sidestep kitsch while remaining eye-catching. From pleather jackets to pinkie rings, this is full-on "Me Decade" immersion, and it's fun to try keeping a tally of the cultural touchpoints: there's a hottub, the requisite 8-track tape player, noticeable sideburns, handlebar moustaches, butterfly collars - and just try finding a guy here whose half-buttoned shirt isn't showing off a gold neck chain. Toss in one "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" reference (yup, it's there) and a few un-ironic uses of the term "groovy" and this could make for a solid game of "70s bingo."

Mr. Fimmel struggles a bit with the American accent but he's quite likeable here, and he's shares an appealing chemistry with Ms. Taylor as his leading lady. Their romance balances nicely against the higher-drama heist plotline, and while the framing structure that ties it all together could be stronger, it's a small quibble that takes little away from this sweet, slightly quirky, and ultimately good-natured release. Steve McQueen may not actually be on the bill, but Mr. Fimmel is a solid surrogate, and damned if he doesn't look right at home behind the wheel.