Memorable, crazy movie

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

In remembrance of the late writer-director Harold Ramis, whose GROUNDHOG DAY (1993, 9/10) is one of my all-time favorite comedies, ANALYZE THIS is another hoot although actually it is the brainchild of De Niro and Crystal, a farcical pastiche of De Niro's classic mafia mien (from THE GODFATHER: PART II 1974 to GOODFELLAS 1990, 9/10 and CASINO 1995, 7/10), he plays Paul Vitti, the notorious mobster boss, survives an assassination from his rival Primo (Palminteri) lately but horrified to find out his masculinity has been chipped away by certain panic attacks, he becomes a gun-shy and over-sentimental cry-baby, what's more vexing, his bed performance is effected as well. Therefore in order to solve the crisis, he visits a shrink, Dr. Ben Sobel (Chrystal), for treatment. The comic clash germinates from Paul's frequent and bossy interruptions of Ben's merry daily life, and even (not on purpose though) jeopardizes his wedding ceremony with Laura (Kudrow) by throwing a clumsy hit-man out for the window. Further on, things get messier when FBI bluntly involved and the film starts to lose its momentum, a test of their friendship is put at front, it meanders into a buddy buddy feel-good dud, the therapy gets the due breakthrough and thing finishes with a prosaic fracas, fortunately the two actors are the saving grace, De Niro's comic bent has been teased out nicely, which sadly would be over-exploited since then and now is on the verge of repetitive fatigue. Crystal contrives a more natural performance and he is a genuine poker-face humorist, it is not a demanding role for him, but his jest of a shrink's equivocations is the face-saving act in an otherwise disappointing coda ("I'm very good at being vague!").Kudrow barely steps out of her Phoebe impersonation and hasn't been given too much screen time either; character actor Joe Viterelli, on the contrary, imbues his loyalty with self-aware sense of wisdom, steals many laughters from two protagonists as Jelly, Vitti's heavy. There would be a sequel ANALYZE THAT (2002) reunites the same team thanks to its commercial success, but since Kenneth Lonergan (YOU CAN COUNT ON ME 2000, 8/10; MARGARET 2011, 8/10) is credited as co-writer for the screenplay, one might put certain high- hope to the storytelling, I guess this project is more a salary-earning assignment than a dedicated undertaking for him, anyway, it is a middle-of-the-road Hollywood annual treatment to responsibly squeeze some lighthearted laughter and send the pay-check to their top-billed stars.

Analyze This happens to be a much better comedy than expected and not only it's witty, it's well-acted, well-directed, and just a fun movie to watch. Coming in a decade that features many high-profile gangster films, it's nice to see one that's not taken too serious. This film has many references to the Godfather trilogy which is pretty ironic. That can only make this film funnier.Harold Ramis's film is about a mob boss named Paul Vitti who seeks counseling for his emotional problems before he heads out to a mobster convention. The only problem is that his psychiatrist, Ben Sobel wants nothing to do with him.One thing that surprisingly works well in this movie is the unlikely pair-up of Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal. Based on their pedigrees, one wouldn't expect this to work out but it sure does. DeNiro relishes this role to make fun of his typecast mafia roles while Crystal does the kind of comedy he is good at. It's evident here that they had a good time and the chemistry is top-notch.Overall, Analyze This is a funny "spoof" of mafia films and it turned out better than I expected. Every time DeNiro does his "You're good" quote to Crystal, I just can't stop laughing especially due to Crystal's well-timed facial expressions. While not a perfect film, it's very enjoyable. Kudos to Harold Ramis in making this film work. I rate this film 9/10.

If there's one thing that cinema taught us: it's the inner comedic value of the gangster world. While they used to portray charismatic and one-dimensionally villainous characters in the Warner Bros pre-Code years, or tormented souls in 40's or 50's film noirs and the French new wave, one movie changed everything: "The Godfather". Francis Ford Coppola's crime epic made a world out of the underworld, a universe with codes and dress codes, names and nicknames, principles such as loyalty, Family, Omerta and as many tight-lips as there were squealers. It put morality in a world of immorality and paved the way to a never-ending fascination between movie lovers and gangsterism.Indeed, no matter how we feel when the ending credits start, the initial feeling is often fascination. And one director in particular made it all the more entertaining because it was grippingly faithful to reality: Martin Scorsese, Marty who was to Gangster films what Ford was to Westerns. His "Goodfellas" provided the most dramatic example of how cruel and amoral the gangster world could be, but how can't anyone laugh at the presentation of a colorful character like Frankie Carbone or "Jimmy Two-Times"? De Niro made his gangster film through "A Bronx Tale" but you couldn't tell when the dramatic homage stopped and the unintentional parody started. It all started with "The Godfather", and Robert De Niro is probably the most emblematic of all the actors who played gangsters. So, it is not surprising for a gangster comedy like "Analyze This" to make the most references to "The Godfather" and to have De Niro as the main protagonist, playing Paul Vitti, a mob leader with deep emotional problem, a Don who is slipping, as would say Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozo (May he rest In Peace). Harold Ramis had the richer source of inspiration and the best actor to carry it, and I guess the reason it worked so well is because, as I said, there's a lot of natural comedy in gangster movies without the need of exaggeration (Brian de Palma's "Scarface" is another brilliant example as a drama full of unintentional comedy) and De Niro doesn't need to force himself to become funny. He made the same mimics in "Casino" and it was not supposed to be a comedy, hell even Brando's performance as Vito Corleone deliberately flirted with caricature."Analyze This" is funny because it doesn't try to be so, as if it was conveying the irony of Joe Pesci's Tommy De Vito who made Henry Hill burst out laughing in "Goodfellas" and then started asking what was so funny, one of the film's most famous scenes. Harold Ramis picked the right tonality, and it was crucial because a parody would have severely damaged the appreciation of the film, there was a spoof-movie of "The Godfather" made one year earlier (Lloyd Bridges' last film), and it was a critical fail. You don't need to make funny parodies of gangster films, just pay tribute to them with a comedic tone. Well, I guess, I made this point very clear, but that's the first thing that elevates the level of "Analyze This". Now, let's get to the second thing that serves the comedy: the presence of a 'straight man', it's the role of Billy Crystal's character, Dr. Sobol, as the psychiatrist who's asked to take care of Vitti, the kind of offer he couldn't, for his greatest displeasure, refuse. Now, just imagine yourself facing Vito or Michael Corleone, or a gangster of the same caliber. You know whatever you say must content him, if a "yes" gives a "no", then say "no", and vice versa. The first interactions between Vitti and Sobol are pure comedic gold, because they always carry this threatening presence. Vitti is vulnerable enough not to get too upset and even cry sometimes, De Niro delivers one of his finest comical performances, proving again his versatility, yet he's also capable to show the face of danger to make himself clear. And Sobol is the outsider; the common man who wants no troubles and yet gets himself stuck in situations none of us would want to be trapped. When he's encountered by Jelly, Vitti's henchman in an aquatic park and refuses to meet Vitti, you find him in a shark aquarium, sometimes, the film allows itself a sort of over-the-top humor, but it's always funny.But if the film works thanks to the Crystal and De Niro pairing, the Auguste and the white- faced clown, the scene-staler is definitely the late mug-faced Joe Vitterelli as Jelly, the man who only understands one language, intimidation, killing, bribing and protecting, the Mafia ABC. When a pedant doctor tells Vitterelli he had an attack, Jelly casually gets up and close the room's curtains, he is the wink to our gangster cinematic knowledge. He's so professional in the way he carries Vitti's tasks that the way he pops us in Sobol's most private lives is absolutely irresistible. If only for De Niro, Crystal and Vitterelli, the film is worth a watch, not to diminish the merit of Lisa Kudrow, weird but efficient as Sobol's fiancé, Chazz Palminteri as Primo Sindone, Vitti's archenemy, and many faces you'd remember from Scorsese's mafia classics.Last point, the film even recreates a scene from "The Godfather", when Vito is shot in the orange stand, and when Sobol reveals to Vitti that he was playing the role of Fredo in the nightmare, Vitti's reaction said it all "I was Fredo, I don't think so?" the film remarkably interferes with the Gangster's pop-culture, denouncing its comical undertones. And it pinnacles in a scene near the end, when Sobol acts like he's the consiglieri of Vitti and try to recall all his gangster memories not to raise suspicions. That's the fundamental basis of "Analyze This" comical genius: if you don't like gangster films, you'll have fun laughing at them, if you like gangster films, you'll love "Analyze This".

'Analyze This' is a complete treat of a comedy. It is so funny & sublime, & the superb performances from it's supremely talented cast only add to it's booty. 'Analyze This' is a comedy about a psychiatrist whose number one-patient is an insecure mob boss. 'Analyze This' has a superb start, middle & end. It's a complete entertainer, that relaxes your mind. The relationship between the psychiatrist & the mob boss is infectious & extremely charming. Paula Weinstein & Jane Rosenthal's Screenplay is first-rate. Harold Ramis's Direction is appropriate. Cinematography is well-balanced. Editing & Art Design are decent.Performance-Wise: De Niro & Billy Crystal are at their funniest best. De Niro, like always, lives his character & gives him an entire ark, while Crystal scores due to his impeccable comic-timing. Also, their On-Screen Rapport is top-notch! Joe Viterelli is lovable. Lisa Kudrow supports well. Chazz Palminteri is as usual. Others leave a mark.On the whole, 'Analyze This' is one fine comedy. I really enjoyed this film!