The momentum peters out by the end, but by then its job is already done. "The Little Hours" is good for some big laughs.

Whether or not Baena does right by Boccaccio, he definitely does right by Aubrey Plaza, his girlfriend and indie comedy's reigning queen of mean.

Baena orchestrates events with confidence and flair, allowing his amazingly talented cast room to frolic as they all work in tandem to make the material come alive with a rebellious zeal that's ingenious.

Told with droll wit and a light touch, The Little Hours milks its one joke for all its worth, delivering as a diverting farce that revels in its own absurdity.