Analyze
This is a comedy that starts off strong for about the first half-hour, but then
slowly transforms into a standard sitcom.
Robert
De Niro (Raging Bull, Goodfellas) makes fun of characters that he has played in
the past in the form of Paul Vitti, a tough-as-nails Mafioso dealing with changed
times in New York City. Having a hard time with stress, he seeks help from psychiatrist
Billy Crystal--a man with his own problems and on his way to the alter for his
second time. Through the course of the film, they begin to help each other.
De
Niro is very funny and quite energetic, although he was more effective in comedies
such as We're No Angels and Midnight Run. On the other hand, Crystal is nothing
special. He seems to be going through the motions and can't hold his own against
De Niro or the other supporting roles in the film.
Director
Harold Ramis (Multiplicity) has made a mobster comedy that's not consistent or
original enough to be in the same league as Brian De Palma's Wise Guys or Andrew
Bergman's The Freshman. Still, Analyze This does have De Niro's performance--and
that alone makes the movie worth seeing.
