Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Caller From LA is one of those forces like the tide that you can depend on. NRG may have lost Joe Farrell (yaaaaaaayy!!!!), but Caller From LA will be with them... always...
The following is a non-spoiler review of Analyze That.
Summary: If you liked Analyze This, go see Analyze That. More of the same. 'Nuff said.
Detail: Analyze This was a comedy that tried to have a bit of heart in it by following the death of Paul Vitti's father. In Anayze That, guess what - Dr. Ben Sobol's father dies, and he has to deal with it.
Act 1 has Vitti behind bars, acting extremely crazy, with hitmen out to kill him. Vitti is taken out of prison and given to the good doctor for healing. But Dr. Sobol's father just passed away, and his wife and son certainly don't want a mob boss in their house. Act 1 also includes some 'rehabilitation', as the mobster tries taking legit jobs.
Vitti meets up with his gang in Act 2, including the ever-lovable Jelly, as they become consultants on a mobster television show called Little Caesar. And people are still trying to kill him.
Act 3 comes with a decent enough resolution, a ridiculously easy heist, and everybody in a happy ending. Funny enough, the touching bits slow down the film. Joe Viterelli as Jelly is a highlight in the film, Lisa Kudrow is underused.
Here's a controversial part on my behalf. I found myself CRINGING several times in the film because De Niro is acting sooo much like a clown these days. I can already imagine the trailer:
*SEE De Niro as a tough car salesman
**SEE De Niro as a ballbreaking restaurant manager (ha ha, inside joke)
***SEE De Niro SING - yes, SING - many songs from West Side Story
****SEE De Niro cry
*****SEE De Niro do that De Niro thing he does. You know, that thing. You know what I'm saying. That thing. That THING! You know, you know. Etc, etc.
Now I know I shouldn't be judging anyone...who the fuck am I? But I only mention this in the review because I feel that many of you out there will have similar feelings watching this comedy.
Directed by Harold Ramis. Written by Harold Ramis, Peter Steinfeld, and Peter Tolan.
Notes: This film should make roughly 2/3rds of the Analyze This. Released in the U.S. on December 6, against Equilibrium and the limited release of Adaptation. HSX gamers estimate a $27 million opening weekend, which makes sense since it doesn't have much in the way of good comedy films (8 Crazy Nights is not very good - I've already reviewed it.)
Cheers,
--Caller From L.A.
Thanks, as always, man, and I’ll see you Tuesday night at the Egyptian.
"Moriarty" out.
