Analyze That Back to Index

Imdb Rating: 5.4
Genre: Comedy
Directed: Kenneth Lonergan (characters) and, Peter Tolan (characters)
Country: USA
Year: 2002
Duration: 96 min

Media: Hot stuff

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Actors: Robert De Niro (as Paul Vitti), Billy Crystal (as Dr. Ben Sobel), Lisa Kudrow (as Laura Sobel), Joe Viterelli (as Jelly), Cathy Moriarty (as Patti LoPresti (as Cathy Moriarty-Gentile)), Joey Diaz (as Ducks (as Joey 'Coco' Diaz)), Jerome LePage (as Convict (as Jerome Le Page)), Joseph Bono (as Wiseguy), Brian Rogalski (as Earl), Thomas Rosales Jr. (as Coyote), Patrick Marcune (as Prisoner), John F. Gooding (as Prison Guard), Henry Morales-Ballet (as Prison Guard), Scott Dillin (as Prison Guard (as Scotty Dillin)), Ted Neustadt (as Rabbi)

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Description: "Back in therapy"

Mobster Paul Vitti is released into Dr. Ben Sobol's care, where only more chaos ensues.

Comment: What's wrong with film studios these days? They come out with something as witty and funny as Analyze This, and sabotage our memory of that original movie with something as obvious and obnoxious as this Analize That.

In reading the credits, I almost fainted after seeing that the characters were written by Kenneth Lonergan, one of our best playwrights and by Peter Tolan, a good screen writer. Well, they both missed the target big time. It must be a cause for embarrassment for all the talent involved.

With the exception of the opening scenes and up to the point that Paul Vitti comes to the home of Dr. Ben Sobel, it showed great promise. But from there on the whole thing falls so flat that you hardly hear any laughter in the theatre.

The subplot of the TV serial, not unlike The Sopranos, is very badly presented and executed. Anthony LaPaglia who is one of the best screen actors around comes out as such an idiot that we kept wondering who advised him in taking this role. For that matter, who sold the idea to the great Robert Deniro, or someone of the stature of Billy Chrystal to repeat their original roles in this loser?

Thank goodness that Lisa Kudrow doesn't have much to do, she can't do much damage here. Cathy Moriarty comes out better as the Mafia Mamma, but she's an actress that can do no wrong. The rest of the cast is forgettable.

Sorry Mr. Ramis, better luck next time.

IMDB TRIVIA FOR ANALYZE THAT (2002):
- Joe Viterelli's last movie.
- The dancer at the beginning was a last minute replacement when the one who was originally cast never showed up.
- The Mercedes that chases Paul and Ben had to be modified for filming since that brand of car does not swerve very well in high speed pursuit.

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