Review: Analyze This (1999)

I had a great night at the movies while seeing 'Analyze This.' It was a sneak preview in which we were all invited to stay for 'Message in a Bottle;' I opted to leave instead. Why? Because I got my money's worth and more from 'Analyze This.' That, and I still have no interest in 'Message in a Bottle,' despite fairly good reviews. I like Costner actually, but tonight I felt I would have hated it after watching something as freakin' funny as 'Analyze This' was. I'll catch 'Message in a Bottle' at the bargain cinema perhaps.

Anyway, Harold Ramis is proving himself as one of the best comedy director/writer's in Hollywood. Granted, some of his work is crap (Stuart Saves His Family), but on a whole, his limited films that he has helmed are usually top notch. 'Analyze This' is the story of psychiatrist Ben Sobol taking on mob boss Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro) as a patient while trying to get married to his girlfriend, Laura (Lisa Kudrow). While some of the situations these characters find themselves in are outrageous, the heart of this movie is in the performances and they make the entire movie frighteningly believable. It is that good, I tell ya. I don't remember a single dull moment in the film. I laughed harder than I have in a long time at the movies. I apologize if I offend you, but even 'There's Something About Mary' can't hold a candle to this movie.

There are all types of comedy. There is slapstick/sight-gag/punchline comedy, drama comedy, action comedy, romantic comedy, and intelligent comedy. This film is one I file under intelligent comedy. It is a comedy in which the characters are funny and the comedy is incorporated into the story and its characters. I like this kind the best. Now, I like the others as well, but when a comedy film can be funny without stopping the story every thirty seconds to deliver a punch line, make stupid expressions, or run around acting stupid to get a laugh; I think it is gold. Harold Ramis has proved to be good in this area, and in the others as well. This type of story is the difference between 'Groundhog's Day' and 'Multiplicity'. Both funny, but the intelligent movies are almost always the better ones.

Aside from 'My Giant', I've never disliked a movie with Billy Crystal. He is just an outstanding actor, and extremely funny to boot. Also, when Robert De Niro does comedy, he can almost upstage any comedy actor who stands alongside him. The pairing of the two is a can't miss, absolutely hilarious result that I will pity the person who doesn't treat themselves to this gem. De Niro just keeps reminding me why he is one of my favorite actors, and also one of the best working today. He added another flawless performance to his list. Billy Crystal deserves his oscar alongside of Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. He won't get it for this film (a shame too, even movies this early in the year should get recognition), but his day needs to come soon. This script (which was probably tailored) could not have worked with anyone else in the leads. These guys just knew what they were doing when preparing this movie.

The cast, as you can tell, in my opinion were superb. Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal were dead on perfect. Lisa Kudrow is also a very talented woman who really lended something special. I think that she really is the only actress that could pull of mouthing at De Niro's character and make the lack of concern of his opinion or stature believable. Now even though he is constantly type cast for any film with Italian-Americans, Joe Viterelli is great whether doing a hard-core gangster movie or comedy. His character Jelly is one of the best supporting one's in the movie. He was almost as funny as the leads and actually stole the stage in some scenes. The rest of the cast was mainly filler for the story, but they all did a good job. Chazz Palminteri shows up as De Niro's rival mobster in the film and has the chance to deliver some funny moments as well. Truly wonderful all around.

So, how about the directing and the writing? Perfect. Harold Ramis really had a smart script to work with. The screenplay was a collaboration of Ken Lonergan, Peter Tolan, and Ramis. They really went all out on this one. The script is as smart as it is funny. Nowhere did it either bore me or insult me. This is how comedy storytelling should be. As for the directing, Ramis really kept this thing going at full speed. He really did a great job. I can't believe what he got out of all the cast and crew. Now this was not a stretch for the amount of talent that was onboard, but under sloppy direction, this could've been bad. Real bad. However, it was anything but bad. A shame Ramis left the chair for 'Galaxy Quest'. I can't wait for his next film.

All in all, a terrific movie that proves that the veterans can still beat the newbies. I wish that everyone gets out to see this film. It is very rewarding. All comedies should be this good. If they were, then we wouldn't have to sit through all those cheesy, stupid films that try to be funny, but instead fall flat. It is comedies like this that spoil me. I'll go see the next great "comedy" and will probably be disappointed because it won't be anywhere near this level. Oh well, catch this one
before its gone!

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