Analyze That

12/6/02 - Review

Robert Deniro and Billy Crystal return for another visit with the doctor-patient, mob comedy “Analyze That.”  It has been almost four years since we last left these wacky guys as Paul Vitti (Deniro) was sent to Sing Sing prison.  Now, Vitti has thirty days until he goes before the parole board to see if he had served enough time for his crimes.  Someone must not want him to get out of prison though, because there were two attempts at his life in one day at the prison.  Vitti knows he has to get out of there or he is a dead man so he fakes a nervous breakdown by displaying traits of semi-catatonic stupor.  He sang bits and pieces of “West Side Story,” to dupe fellow inmates, guards, and even his doctor, Ben Sober (Crystal).  Upon these turn of events, the FBI releases Vitti into Sobel’s custody so he will be able to make him competent for the parole hearing.  As soon as he is released from prison, Sobel discovers the faking, and why he did it in the first place.  Sobel is not the same though because of the recent passing of his father.  Ben Sobel presses on anyway by trying to help Paul Vitti, but he is up to the same old tricks.  Back in the real world, Vitti discovers that there are two families that want him to join their ranks.  One family, led by Lou Rigazzi (AKA Lou the Wrench), and his former family, which is now led by a woman, Patti LoPresti.  Sobel tells him that he has to give up his old ways and get a working job like everyone else.  But in the end, he has a master scheme to rob 22 million in gold from the US Government.  As you can possibly imagine, Ben Sobel’s wife, played by Lisa Kudrow does not like it from the start, but hey, what can she do?  What can Ben Sobel do for that matter, now that Paul Vitti is back on the streets?  I guess you will have to watch it to find out. 

 Unlike some people that I know, I liked “Analyze This” when it came out back in 1999.  I even bought it for my DVD collection.  Sorry, I have not reviewed it yet.  “Analyze This” was a fresh look at mob-life, and no movie has done a better job at including comedy into this old genre.  Sure, we have shows like “The Sopranos,” and movies like “The Godfather,” but were any of them comedies?  Nope.  In the second season of the so called “Sopranos,” the movie was mentioned by Tony’s replacement shrink.  I love mob movies, don’t get me wrong, but I like a good comedy.  This is a good comedy which I think most people will enjoy.  The people that probably will not enjoy it are the people that think “American Pie” is at the top of comedy food chain.  Sorry guys, there is a little more to this movie, like a plot, and a good one if I say so the least.  This movie is as good as the original, maybe a little better.  I will have to pop the DVD in again so I can compare.  Billy Crystal and Robert Deniro shine as the doctor-patient duo that will have you laughing from the very get go.  You can see their years of acting experience have paid off as they blend together in every scene for crisp and funny dialogue.  I think that this movie is funnier than the original but I will not know until I watch the original again.  I really do not follow Billy Crystal movies, but I love Deniro’s.  I have seen him in countless mob and big-guy type movies, but it’s good to change and have him play homage to himself like this.  One would not think that he could do comedy, but he can.  I enjoy his comedy movies as much if not better than his straight movies.  We don’t want to have him type-casted do we?  Lisa Kudrow and Billy Crystal’ son are good supporting actors, even though their screen time was minimal.  They were on screen enough if you ask me because I want to see the real stars, Bob and Bill.  Never fear analyze fans, Paul Vitti’s side kick, Jelly, returns with his off the cuff remarks and attitude.  Harold Ramis, (AKA Igon Spengler) has proven to be a good director with two straight comedies, when in fact, he just released a sequel, which should suck by default.  I waited for this movie to come out for a while, and I can say I walked away from the movie being fulfilled.  I believe you people out there, at least the ones with brains, will enjoy this movie, even if you have not seen the first.  The good thing is that you do not have to see the original to enjoy this one.  Go ahead, put up $7 bucks and have a good time

Overall Grade