Analyze this
A plot line about psychiatry and the mob doesn't seem to mix at first, but with both Analyze This and The Sopranos tackling gangsters with stress, it seems a bit more probable. In fact, in most cases we don't see the stressors that come with whacking everyone and always being on the lookout for assassins and backstabbers during mob films, so it makes sense that a mobster might need a good shrink every once and a while.
Analyze This is exactly the above premise, plus a little bit of added comedy. Billy Crystal plays Dr. Ben Sobel, a psychiatrist who is currently going through a bit of a rough patch with his onslaught of depressed housewives. He is, however, getting remarried to Laura (Lisa Kudrow), a retiring news reporter. Ben Sobel unwittingly stumbles - or in his case, slams - into Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro), the head of a mob family in New York who is currently suffering from a bout of fatigue and stress. Sobel is thrown into the mobster lifestyle as Vitti takes a liking to him, proclaiming Sobel as his new psychiatrist.
Yet the mob lifestyle isn't for Sobel, and as he vehemently tries to distance himself from the criminal activities and the danger, Vitti draws him farther in. Of course, the Feds come knocking at Sobel's door once they realize he has become an associate of Vitti's, and things escalate from there, with both Vitti and the Feds adding two different types of stressors to Sobel's life. It's up to Sobel to cure Vitti in two weeks, plus avoid being killed by the mob, the Feds, or both.
In essence, Analyze This is reminiscent of a buddy comedy, pairing two unlikely personas together in whacky situations. The film is less about the plot of the film than the character development, which is a good thing, because it takes a semi-weak plot and turns it into something much more entertaining. Robert De Niro is the obvious stand-out here, with his take on an eccentric mobster rich in subtle details. His actions are repeated and uniform, and he never feels out of place in the mob. Towards the end of the film when he takes his place at a table of mobsters, he feels powerful and dignified, a fitting aura for a mob boss. De Niro knows exactly what he's doing, and he has developed the ability to immerse himself fully in the character. It shows in Analyze This, especially in his ability to crack a corny joke and still make it successful.
Billy Crystal is at the exact opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to comparing Sobel and Vitti, and he provides a nice contrast of character. Crystal is a realistic psychiatrist, in that his ability to persuade and get to the bottom of Vitti's dark past is believable and feels true to what I know of psychiatry. It's interesting to note that Crystal plays the more serious role here and lets De Niro have most of the more humorous segments. Even with this reversal of normal roles, both actors showcase their abilities at taking on more unfamiliar territory.
Lisa Kudrow's character is seen very little, and when she is, she's less funny or sarcastic and more bitchy. It would have been better if her character was either left out of the plot or made a little more likable, because it makes the audience feel like we like Vitti more than Laura. While it's a compliment towards De Niro's character traits, it's also undesirable as it seems like the audience is supposed to want Sobel to marry Laura instead of ditching her for a better-suited woman.
The comedy is a mixture of action-based humor, mobster parody, and character dialogue, and though the slapstick comedy is funny, the dialogues between Vitti and Sobel outshine any of the other jokes. It's the odd relationship that they build together that provides the quirkiest moments. The differences in their own lifestyles and personalities give a lot of instances where Vitti and Sobel can disagree. This escalates both the tension and comedy at the same time, and there's a sense of fear and comedic relief that lie beneath the surface of the film's plot.
While Analyze This' story works almost as a math equation (1 psychiatrist + [1 mob boss - confidence] = FUN ANTICS), not to mention one that has been done before, it still works because of the infusion of comedy and serious mob action. The film gives a nod to as many big crime movies as it does comedies, so there's something for everyone in the movie. De Niro makes it look fun to be in the mob, and although he does attempt to get out of the crime business, it still makes the audience feel like some people are just meant to be mobsters. Although there's not a lot to analyze with the film, it still presents itself admirably and garners repeated watches - if not for the flashy script, then for De Niro's performance.
Last updated: 2009-08-23 06:35:53 by Ryneb
