This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Blistering performances.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

"Analyze This" is a film that used to be very famous in my country, and it has never really caught my attention before I found out what therapy was about. Last night I gave it a chance, and I must say I enjoyed it. De Niro performs a mafia leader whose life isn't complete, due to the emotional problems he's been facing. After going to some sessions, this guy, Paul Vitty, realizes that he feels guilty for the death of his father, and that's what makes he gets better and leave the criminal organization. The discovering scene is very powerful, and I really congratulate De Niro for that performance. Lisa Kudrow, on the other hand, even thought she's a lot of fun in "Friends", in here, her character is just useless and out of context; I just don't get her character or her acting in this. Also, this movie is never meant to be taken seriously, so don't expect it to be a smart comedy-- actually it's a little corny-- and you'll be able to have a GOOD time.

Analyze This (1999): Dir: Harold Ramis / Cast: Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Joe Viterelli, Chazz Palminteri: Hilarious comedy about problems too big for one person. This is a parody of the roles that Robert De Niro is accustomed too. He plays a gangster seeking professional help and Billy Crystal plays a psychiatrist who unwillingly puts his wedding on hold to assist him. Structure is handled in sitcom fashion with De Niro interrupting Crystal's life at any opportunity. Director Harold Ramis satires the gangster genre and skillfully breaks tension in conclusion. Ramis is known as a director of lewd comedies. Among his best is Caddyshack and National Lampoon's Vacation. De Niro is hilarious as he is reduced to tears over a hidden trauma overwhelming him. Crystal is great as the frustrated psychiatrist juggling his job and his personal life. One of the film's pleasures is how the conclusion is handled. Joe Viterelli as De Niro's loyal bodyguard steals moments especially when Crystal takes control and enters a potential dangerous yet funny situation. The weak link here is Lisa Kudrow as Crystal's bride who is more or less a prop. Chazz Palminteri is cast because obviously Joe Pesci wasn't available. Through De Niro we learn that there is a breaking point to everyone. Through Crystal we learn that we can make a positive impact just by giving our time. Score: 8 ½ / 10

There is Chemistry to be sure in this compounding of Comedy/Gangster Stereotypes. The two Leads, the Director, and an able supporting Cast deliver a Hit Movie with more laughs than not. It is stretching things a bit far at times and things get a little out of their already out there orbit, but for the most part it is a fun and Entertaining Movie.It does have a somewhat believable look inside the Mafia and the Doctor's Couch and that makes this all the more bizarre as we watch things break apart in a National Lampoon kinda way. Most of the Comedy, that works the best, is verbal ("If I go Fag you die.") and are much better than the Sight Gags. The Gunplay and the physical Violence fail to satirically sting.The Movie works more than it doesn't, with the Deniro crying Scenes the most obvious misfire, but overall it hits more than misses and there are enough belly-laughs to make this quite a watchable take-off on familiar and popular Mob Movies.

This may be the beginning of the period in which Robert De Niro just stopped trying. This period continues, unfortunately. This movie is not funny. I didn't laugh -- not once. The premise seems amusing, but not too far into the movie you start to get that familiar feeling that goes with so many bad movies: that the film editor tried to piece together whatever they had shot into a decent movie, even though not enough was completed. What was completed was of mediocre quality, but the final product is GARBAGE. I paid to see this in the theater and really wanted to ask for my money back. There's one scene in particular that is clearly improvised... but so badly. Don't watch this. I can't even imagine how bad the sequel was with such a disappointing start.