Analyze That (2002)-"R"

Run Time:95 minutes

2 stars out of 4

As talented as Robert DeNiro, Billy Crystal, and Harold Ramis all are, even their combined efforts could not save the weak Analyze That(2002). That, the sequel to 1999's very successful Analyze This, took a good idea and trashed it. Ramis, who wrote and directed both films, was apparently not satisfied with This's $100 million+ earnings and just had to make That, a forced, dull, and predictable sequel. That takes off where This left off, with Mafia boss Paul Vitti (DeNiro) locked up in a federal prison for his notorious crimes. After four years of surviving crooked prison guards and attempted hits, Vitti realizes he can't stay lucky forever and does what any other lifelong tough guy would do: fakes mental illness by acting catatonic and singing show tunes from West Side Story. The Feds suspect Vitti is up to no good and call in for his psychiatrist Dr. Ben Sobol (Billy Crystal) to administer a mental evaluation. The high-strung and somewhat annoying Sobol, who first met his unusual patient after a car accident in the first movie, arrives to save the day by judging Vitti insane, therefore releasing him from prison. The crafty feds, however, one-up the doctor by releasing Vitti into Sobol's sole custody, and tailing him with two special agents. Sobol now must once again deal with the quick-tempered Vitti, his low-life associates, and an unending string of barely missed assassinations, and hilarity ensues. Or it should. Instead, the two-bit sequel fails where the first succeeded, with little intelligent or fresh dialogue, a tired premise, and a host of sub-par Mafia stereotypes that could be seen in any Saturday Night Live Skit. The only success from This that carries on at all to That is the dialogue between Crystal and DeNiro, which itself is due only to the duo's natural acting ability and chemistry, not to the script. Instead of using this unusual pairing of talented actors, however, Ramis seems to forget that the duo's chemistry is the only reason that This worked at all, and makes the unforgivable mistake of separating DeNiro from Crystal for a large portion of the film. In defense of That, I must admit that it does have its moments, where the occasional (and I do mean occasional) witty piece of dialogue connects with the timing and deliverance of either Crystal or DeNiro, meaning that its not a total loss. Is this film worth seeing? Maybe. It depends on how bored you are, and how much you like or dislike the comic stylings of Billy Crystal, minus an original premise or even a mediocre attempt at intelligent dialogue.