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Analyze This

Directed by Harold Ramis, starring Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal

Robert De Niro is funnier when he's not trying to be funny. In past dalliances with comedy, like with Sean Penn in We're No Angels, he pushed too hard for laughs and failed miserably. Thankfully, in this Harold Ramis-directed satire, De Niro plays it straight and the results are far more amusing. Here, the Godfather II and Goodfellas star sends up his many appearances as a hardened gangster, not by mocking his past roles but by tweaking them just enough so that human frailty creeps in.

Having spent years terrorizing his foes, New York mob boss Paul Vitti is facing his greatest challenge - overcoming an anxiety disorder. He's crying at sentimental commercials and has difficulty in torturing enemies, which is a huge concern for someone whose life depends on his ability to remain intimidating. Hence, psychiatrist Ben Sobol (Billy Crystal) is brought in to help the crime lord build a bridge over troubled waters. However, as news of the therapy sessions leaks, Ben's impending nuptials and Paul's reign of terror come under threat.

Billy Crystal wisely keeps a lid on a part that could have spoiled the show if he didn't find an appropriate rhythm with his co-star. As a result, Crystal's dry, understated delivery inspires some of the movie's more chuckle-worthy moments. But it's De Niro who ran the risk of embarrassment here by having an audience potentially laugh at him rather than laugh with him. Good thing, then, that he realized that a pathetic, depressed mobster is far more amusing than one that reverts to slapstick for approval.

Ben Davey

Analyze That

Directed by Harold Ramis, starring Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal

In my review for Analyze This, I praised Robert De Niro for having the nous to refrain from going too far when parodying his many screen appearances as a member of organized crime. Then he goes and does something like this -a tepid, cringe-worthy performance in a sequel that clutches at straws for its entire duration. There was really nowhere for these characters to go after the first film and any attempt to stretch out a conceit that was barely enough to cover one movie was always going to end in disaster.

Now in Sing Sing prison, mobster Paul Vitti (De Niro) fears for his life and so he feigns insanity in order to be granted parole. Miraculously, his plan works and for some reason he is handed over to the custody of his former psychiatrist, Dr Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal). Living in Ben's house, Paul raises hell, which causes friction with the good doctor's wife (Lisa Kudrow), and eventually the ex-gangster's old buddies re-enter the frame. Also, in order to keep Paul on the straight and narrow, Ben finds work for his patient as a script consultant on a mafia-based TV series.

There is a scene where De Niro, in a bid to show the authorities that's he mentally unstable, does a song and dance routine to the showtune I Feel Lucky. It is the single most embarrassing moment of the actor's career and one that raises serious questions about his judgment. With this, the audience is no longer laughing with him and in some moments his co-star Billy Crystal wears the expression of a man who realizes what a mistake the entire exercise was. It's not enough to taint De Niro's reputation but it shows that even the greats are not above bland cash-ins.

BD

(China Daily 09/27/2007 page20)