ANALYZE THAT [5/10]

USA 2002 : Harold Ramis : 95mins

Mobster-meets-psychiatrist comedy Analyze This took enough money back in 1999 to make a sequel inevitable—but Robert De Niro is so busy these days it’s taken nearly four years for the follow-up to appear. While the star’s schedule is more hectic than ever, each new film seems to dilute the greatness of De Niro’s filmography that little bit more—you have to go back all the way to Heat to find his last really worthwhile project.

Analyze That may not be quite so depressing as City By The Sea—it’s a reasonably competent little comedy—but you have to wonder how long De Niro is going to continue churning out these take-the-money-and-run B-movies. This time his volatile gang-boss Paul Vitti is released from jail into the custody of mild-mannered shrink Ben Sobel (Crystal) after appearing to suffer a mental breakdown behind bars. But it’s all an act, and soon Vitti is plotting his next big heist while also making some cash on the side—acting as adviser to TV show “Little Caesar” (any resemblance to The Sopranos is entirely intentional.)

The plot, however, is just an excuse for the Crystal and De Niro double-act—episodes range from the amusing to the embarrassing: De Niro feigning mental illness by belting out West Side Story tunes; a pill-popping Crystal slurring his speech in a Chinese restaurant. The direction is unimaginative, with a conspicuous over-use of 1970s-style “exciting” background muzak.The only real reason for bothering with Analyze That, is Anthony Lapaglia as the actor playing “Little Caesar.” The “Aussie De Niro” is very wittily cast, and his sub-plot could have been used for some welcome, Scream-style, postmodern fun.

The show’s pretentious director Raoul Berman would have been an ideal role for Martin Short in Get Over It mode—but we’re stuck with the irritating Reg Rogers instead: typical of a film which is all too content to tread water by concentrating on the tired Vitti-Sobel shenanigans.

Neil Young

25th January, 2003
(seen 23rd, Warner Village Cheshire Oaks, Ellesmere Port)