One thing my
parents taught me is, when you’re lost, stop and try to retrace your steps to
where you last knew where you were. This film was completely lost from the
start—it felt more like a collection of deleted scenes from the previous
movie, Analyze
This (1999). There’s no way the producers didn’t suspect this
movie was heading down the wrong path from the beginning, but I guess they
overestimated fans’ willingness to swallow anything.
The musical
score was awful, the jokes were nonexistent, and the premise of Paul Vitti
trying to reform as a mobster with a psychiatrist holding his hand felt lamer
and more forced than it should have.
The whole
production was fueled by the critical and commercial success of the first film.
The producers decided to explore what would happen if Paul Vitti tried to go
straight. Unfortunately, the scenes where he attempts to reform were
annoying—probably meant to be funny, but watching my beloved Paul try to be a
good maître d’ almost made me gag.
This movie
completely ruins the first one. If you watch them back-to-back (and I strongly
advise against that), you’ll forget all the good vibes Analyze
This (1999) gave you as a viewer.
This movie was
met with negative reviews upon release, earning a 27% approval rating on Rotten
Tomatoes. It was also a box office bomb, making just over $55 million on a
$60 million production budget.
The movie
introduces Paul (Robert De Niro) in prison, where he has full control of
everything—until his cellmate gets transferred. Suspecting foul play, Paul
hides under the bed and makes it look like he’s sleeping under the sheets. Late
at night, someone shoots at the bed, thinking it’s Paul.
Realizing his
life is in danger the longer he stays in prison, Paul puts on an act,
pretending to have lost his mind. His old friend and psychiatrist, Dr. Sobel
(Billy Crystal), is called in to evaluate him, but even he can’t tell if Paul
is faking it. Paul is released into Sobel’s custody, and once they’re out of
sight of the cops, Paul drops the act and starts acting normal again.
Paul is
convinced to try living a good life, but after another attempt on his life, he
takes a job as a consultant on a TV show, where he begins coordinating his
plans.
Please watch Analyze This (1999) and stop there.
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