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 Analyze
That
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow and
Joe Vitterelli.
Directed (and co-written) by: Harold Ramis
Rated: R
Analyze
That is freakin' hysterical. It's funny for friggin' days
over here. I laughed so hard I nearly blew a calzone out my nose!
For those who adored Analyze This
(like me) Analyze That is, dare I say, is even funnier.
Billy Crystal is one of the funniest men on Earth and DeNiro-
well - is DeNiro. The two make the buddy movies of late look like
rank amateurs. Though I loved Showtime.
You see a pattern here? Yeah, DeNiro. He can do no wrong. Whaddya
questionin' me? I'm honest. If he bit the rotten capicola in the
third drawer I'd speak up. Naturally he never does so I can sit
back and purr.
Story
goes…Paul Vitti (Mr. Robert DeNiro), is a tough sonnovabitch
Mafia crime boss chillin' in prison for the first escapade. He
runs the place, natch, but as of late it's getting tough to survive.
Apparently, someone wants him in the Hudson swimmin' with the
fishes. He doesn't know whom he can trust…and he has to get
out - fast.
So Paulie calls on his old pal and psychiatrist Dr. Ben Sobel
(Billy Crystal). Dr. Sobel treated Mr. Vitti a while ago for his
various phobias and Freudian hang-ups that were strung like a
tenement laundry line in July. By the time Dr. Sobel gets to Vitti,
Paul's has had a "nervous breakdown. "
Hmm,
Dr. Sobel aint so naïve and via one of the funniest scenes
on film - ever - Dr. Sobel visits Vitti to determine if
he's mentally deranged and needs to be "released" for
his own good or not.
After
a determining poor Paul's indeed one cookie short of a Keeler
Elve package, and through the magic of plot movement, he is released
into the custody of Dr. Sobel (go with it huh?).
Back
home Sobel's wife (Lisa Kudrow) is barely adapting to having a
mobster in their home = more hilarity. But Paul, as gruff as he
is in the suburban structure, is trying to go legit…
Vitti
is set out into the real world of nine-to-fivers; he's a car dealer,
a jewelry hawker, a Maitre 'D. But the cutey finds his nitch working
on a television Mafia drama (a blatant Sopranos spoof). He's hired
to teach the lead, Tony or Vito or something generically I-talian
(Anthony LaPaglia), the Lee Strasberg methods of the "family."
But what happened to the people trying to hit Vitti? Oh, they
are still there- it's a mystery I tells ya.
Can
Paul survive a family hit order? Can he go legit? Will he figure
out why he's never become a cowboy or will he give in to his desires
for bad-doing and remain a tough sonnovabitch?
Director Harold Ramis does comedy right. He should he's from the
Second City comedic spawning pool and wrote just about every wildly
hilarious film made for awhile; Animal House, Meatballs, Ghostbusters
etc…etc. He's been doing comedy since he was sprung from
the womb I think. Granted it's not that hard as a director
when you have Billy Crystal and Robert DeNiro - let's be honest.
But Har's still a talent of tremendous proportions.
 Speaking
of t-a-l-e-n-t, let's delve into the greatness of Robert
DeNiro. Besides slipping, with ease, 'tween drama and comedy,
Bob's by far the sexiest man alive. I schlepped to NYC
for a cocktail party in hopes of snagging a visual of him sipping
martinis. Smitten? You betchya! I'd love to dip him in a warm
mixture of toffee and butterscotch mansicle topping and slowly
lick him clean…. meow! Bobby's also heading into year
two of his Tribeca
Int'l Film Festival - bravo! See, he's no mumaluke
— he just plays one.
Billy
Crystal is a comedy diamond. A treasure trove of hilarity!
He has that ability to just make you pee your pants on command.
Me at least. Sure, there's a few icky poo-poo things on his resume
(forgive that My Giant faux pas) but the good outweighs
the ugly and here he shines like Haley's Comet on a clear Caribbean
night.
Lisa
Kudrow revamps her role as Sobel's sarcastic but loyal bride Laura.
She's blossoming into a major talent with a definite style. She
does good in these roles. Though, I would like to see her stretch
and stop with the "character" stuff - just once; bet
she can really act.
Analyze
That is an all-out laugh fest extravaganza folks. Run to da
theater for this one.
Bring a brown paper bag with yas so you don't hyperventilate from
the non-stop laughs. Is it new? Nah. But neither is Austin Powers
and I can't get enough ah dat eeda.
Snack
recommendation: Vats of Merlot and a nice rare Tribeca steak
over lumpy mashed garlic potatoes…
The
official friggin' site
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