Robert de Niro became famous for playing characters connected with organised crime. His roles in movies like The Godfather 2, Goodfellas and Casino are iconic. He is good in these roles and playing a mobster in a comedy came as no surprise. Usually these type of movies that make fun of the concept of organised crime aren’t very good. When this first came out my expectations were low, but as it was de Niro I did need to check it out and was pleasantly surprised by Analyze This. It was time to revisit this film.
De Niro plays crime boss Paul Vitti, who after almost being murdered, starts having anxiety attacks. When his right hand man Jelly (Joe Viterelli) is accidentally hit by psychiatrist Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal) and receives this card he suggest Vitti to pay him a visit. Even though Sobel is not really wanting to get the mobster as his client, it is pretty hard to say no to such a man. From that moment he is pulled into his world and ends up in situations he does not want to be in.
What I love about this movie is the chemistry between Crystal and de Niro. They give the movie its heart and are both responsible for a lot of laughs. The final meeting when Crystal’s character has to pretend is a consigliere is one of my favorites. The only thing I am not a fan of in this movie is Lisa Kudrow, who does not manage to shake her Friends character. Analyze This successfully makes fun of the gangster genre (even remaking a Godfather scene) without it ever feeling too much like a cliché. With very witty dialogue and a great cast Analyze This is one of those comedies I always like watching (which I unfortunately can not say of the very disappointing sequel).
I do like this film as I think it showcased that de Niro can be funny but it would also unfortunately set the template for the bad movies he would in the next decade though the sequel was OK because of de Niro singing songs from West Side Story.
Yeah, he really was very funny. I hated the sequel…him singing was kind of funny, but as whole it was quite bad.
One of the better DeNiro “comedy period” films, although Billy Crystal started wearing thin on me towards the end. And don’t get me started on Analyze That… ugh. Sometimes, I can’t understand why people find this stuff funny….
I really liked Crystal and think the final meeting is one of the highlights. Happy to hear you agree on Analyze That, bad movie.
Can’t say much for the sequel myself, Nostra but this was certainly and entertaining little comedy. DeNiro and Crystal are fantastic together.
Yeah they were. Thanks Mark.
Awesome review! I watched this for the De Niro blogathon and I liked this film, too – definitely one of those comedies I always like watching too. I so agree about Crystal’s and De Niro’s chemistry, too, it gave a lot to the film.
Thanks Elina!