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March 5, 1999/17 Adar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 23
Don't 'fuggit' about this movie
MICHELLE ACKERMAN
Staff Writer
What do you do with a movie that has everything - action, a little romance, a huge fountain and a lot of comedy? Grab someone and go. "Analyze This" is a movie that both men and women will want to see.
Though the casting is to type - Robert De Niro as a mobster, Billy Crystal as a sarcastic psychiatrist with a Jewish edge, and Lisa Kudrow, as well, Lisa Kudrow - the acting is strong, and the roles offer a few unexpected twists. For example, I bet you've never seen De Niro cry.
The movie opens with a series of black-and-white still photographs of the murder of Paul Vitti's (De Niro's) father, a big-cheese mobster. The images (not grisly) provide an explanation for what Vitti experiences throughout the movie. Vitti must assume the role as leader of his crime family at an upcoming big mob meeting. As that time nears, he begins having panic attacks, which Vitti describes as "constrictions of the chest and shortness of breath things" - a big problem for someone who is supposed to inspire panic, not experience it.
This is where Ben Sobol (Crystal) comes in. After rear-ending a car driven by Vitti's bodyguard, Jelly (Joseph Viterelli), Sobol finds himself with a new, 24-hour-a-day patient.
Searching for the quiet, peaceful, suburban life that has always eluded him, and looking forward to his upcoming wedding to Laura MacNamara (Kudrow), Sobol initially wants no part of Vitti. But it's not easy to say "no" to Vitti, as Sobol quickly finds outs when he is kidnapped in the middle of the night from his hotel room while on vacation, thrown in a shark tank, and "politely" escorted out of his own pre-wedding party.
The script offers up a slew of funny lines ("What kind of sandwich ain't too fattening? A half a sandwich") and uses humor to poke fun at stereotypes and today's world. When Vitti seeks out Sobol after his best friend is taken out, Sobol makes him call the mobster who ordered the hit and express his feelings in an attempt to gain closure
De Niro becomes increasingly believable as the tough guy with the soft edge as the movie goes on. By the time you hit the scene where he cries at a commercial, you almost believe it could happen.
Kudrow's role as the wife who can't get a proper wedding takes a backseat to the Vitti-Sobol storyline. Though she's given a few chances to show her acting range, for the most part, she still comes off as Lisa Kudrow.
Crystal is funny, as usual, and completely steals the thunder in one of the movie's strongest scenes. Breaking out of character he becomes a loud-talking, tough guy who not only takes on the mob, but literally slaps them around.
Still, Viterelli as Jelly is the one who really delivers the goods. As a straight-faced, self-admittedly slow bodyguard ("I can't do it; I'm a moron; everyone knows I'm a moron"), Jelly is the glue that holds the movie together. His presence adds weight to all the scenes, and his simple-minded, dry humor evokes laughter.
The movie also takes a stab at sexual humor - some of it enough to make parents want to leave their children at home - but most of it side-splittingly funny.
Co-written and directed by Harold Ramis ("National Lampoon's Vacation," "Club Paradise" and "Multiplicity") the movie is a must-see.
And what about the fountain? Fuggit about it.
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