Analyze That (R, 2002)

In this sequel, mob boss Paul Vitti (Robert DeNiro) pretends to be crazy in order to get out of jail, and he is released into the custody of his analyst, Dr. Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal). After some unfortunate attempts at a job that does not involve any felonies, he ends up as an expert advisor to a "Sopranos"-like television show. Meanwhile, he has to figure out how to survive a war between two rival mob families.

Robert DeNiro loves comedy. Who knew? After decades as America's most respected dramatic actor, DeNiro discovered that he enjoyed making people laugh in Analyze This and he does it again in the aptly titled sequel, ANALYZE THAT. Overall, this one isn't as good as the first. There are some slow patches, and Lisa Kudrow as Sobel's wife is badly misused. The plot doesn't go anywhere and the attempt to make the pretentious producer of the television show funny does not work at all.

But it is sheer joy to see DeNiro give everything he's got (which is plenty) to the pure pleasure of comic madness, and every time he comes on screen, the movie takes off like a rocket. Raging Bull fans will delight in seeing DeNiro onscreen with the woman who played Vicki LaMotta, Cathy Moriarty. They still have great chemistry. And be sure to stay for the outtakes at the end. I know they have become a cliché, but these are worth the wait.

Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Harold Ramis
Cast: Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Robert De Niro
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release: December 6, 2002
DVD release: May 13, 2003
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: language, sexual references, and violence