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Analyze That 2002 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Harold Ramis
R, 95 min. (language, sexual content) |
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Starring: Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Joe Viterelli, Anthony LaPaglia, Cathy Moriarty-Gentile
Producers: Jane Rosenthal, Paula Weinstein
Screenplay: Peter Steinfeld, Harold Ramis, Peter Tolan
Cinematography: Ellen Kuras
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Released: 12.06.02 (Wide) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
When sequels such as Analyze That are made, the simple question "Why?" arises. The answer is simple - money. And
to be fair, there are plenty of moviegoers who are eager to see the Robert De Niro/Billy Crystal combo in action again,
especially after their success in Analyze This. But, not surprisingly, the sequel has lost considerable momentum and
charm that the original offered. While the film has its share of humorous moments, it's hardly worth forking over some
hard-earned money to see. This one is for diehards only.
The highly watchable duo is back, but this time Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal) is entrusted with the care of Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro),
who is released from prison because of a perceived mental breakdown. Someone is trying to kill Vitti, so he uses Sobel to
begin his investigation. It's not long before the mafia bosses are involved, and, even though Vitti has been forced to get a
"real job" as a TV consultant on a hit mafia show, he has a plan in the works that will put him the clear with the feds and
his peers. Meanwhile, Sobel must deal with the death of his father and trying to control Vitti's desires to rejoin his peers
in the mob racket.
This is a perfect example of a talented cast using their presence and suavity to disguise the fact that the plot is less than
workable. In fact, in the hands of a lesser cast, Analyze That would be one of year's worst films. Thankfully, De Niro's
renditions of West Side Story, his relatively insightful conversations with Crystal, and his mere towering presence is enough
to make the film bearable. And Crystal displays his usual schtick as an actor who can use humor to make seemingly
unsavory situations comfortable. But the question remains, why do these fine actors choose roles that hardly register on
the degree of difficulty scale for acting? This appearance also continues a disturbing trend of comedic performances for
De Niro, one of his generation's finest actors. What happened to roles he mastered in films such as The Godfather Part II,
Raging Bull
, Goodfellas, or even Heat?
Analyze That is also shamefully short on true laughs. Although we chuckle at a few scenes, their are moments that are
difficult to watch, like a fingernail scraping a chalkboard. Several scenes are so poorly realized that the only viewers
likely to laugh are those who are easily amused. Director Harold Ramis, who has helmed some fine motion pictures such
as Groundhog Day and Ghostbusters, seems confused at what direction to take the movie. Is this Vitti's or Sobel's picture?
What are they striving for? Who really cares? Because the audience is forced to asked these questions, Analyze That falls
short of effective comedy. What we're left with is not much more than a few barbs that any comedian at your local night
club could muster.
© 2002 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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