It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This is a great movie if you like the life. They teach you how to outsmart the mob and come out on top. Harry & Moe want to be somebody but when they make a mistake it could cost them their lives. They take off to Atlantic City and hide out from the mob bosses and from their-selves only to find the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. Casting such talented people as Danny Devito, Joe Piscopo, Dan Hedaya, Harvey Keitel, Captain Lou Albano, Patti Lupone, Ray Sharkey, working from a script by George Gallo, produced by Aaron Russo, DePalma put his trademark stamp on this film, and turned out something so funny that you will be screaming with laughter the entire time.Yes, even though it is a comedy, DePalma throws in a terrific last minute twist that is utterly climatic and fantastic and hilarious. Everyone in this is hilarious, especially Albano, Devito, and Piscopo, who never did a funnier film before or after this one. Not to be mistaken and/or confused with the dreadful "Johnny Dangerously". Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Wise Guys (1986)*** (out of 4)Losers Harry (Danny DeVito) and Moe (Joe Piscopo) are at the bottom of the food chain in the Mafia but they find themselves wanted men after they don't place a bet for the local boss (Dan Hedaya). The two head off to Atlantic City to try and find a way to stay alive but soon The Fixer (Lou Albano) is hot on their trail.WISE GUYS isn't the greatest comedy ever made but it's an interesting change of pace for director Brian DePalma who was coming off the less than successful BODY DOUBLE. That film, as well as SCARFACE, weren't huge hits with critics or fans at the time of their release so it's interesting to see the director turn to comedy before following this up with THE UNTOUCHABLES.A lot of this film's success has to go to the supporting cast. Hedaya is quite entertaining in his role of the crime boss and we also get a nice turn by Harvey Keitel who plays another crime boss. DeVito himself is quite funny throughout the movie since it allows him to play up that wild side of his. Personally speaking I've never been the biggest fan of Piscopo but he actually had some nice chemistry here with DeVito. The movie stealer has to be Albano as the overweight murderer who is constantly losing his cool. He's certainly the funniest thing in the film.Story-wise there's really nothing ground-breaking here or anything too funny but WISE GUYS is a good little gem that at least will leave a smile on your face.

Harry Valentini (Danny DeVito) and Moe Dickstein (Joe Piscopo) are both errand boys for the Mob. When they lose $250,000, they are set up to kill each other. But they run off to Atlantic City and comedy follows.This film is a bit of an enigma in Brian De Palma's career, not fitting in with the themes or style he is known for. In fact, I would have expected something like this to come from Billy Wilder before De Palma, but yet it exists.I do have to say I loved the roles filled by Lou Albano and Harvey Keitel. I mean, wow, despite a relatively weak film, Keitel still brings his A game.Roger Ebert wrote, "Wise Guys is an abundant movie, filled with ideas and gags and great characters. It never runs dry." Apparently this enthusiasm has "run dry" since its release, as now the film is largely forgotten and Rotten Tomatoes gives it a poor 33%. Personally, I thought it was just average.

I've just caught it on TCM and can't wait the 5 weeks till it comes out on DVD. This is a gangster spoof at its best, full of lovable characters well played by top actors of the mob genre. Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo make a great loser couple, Dan Hedaya stars as the dreary mob boss, whose henchmen include Frank Vincent and hilarious Lou Albano that steals every scene he's in. We even get to see Harvey Keitel in a classy supporting role! The plot is simple and has been done before and after, but rarely with such charm and lightness. With a current rating of 5.2, it's a severely underrated gangster comedy able to deliver entertaining evening for every fan of the genre.