This 26-Year-Old Underrated Crime Comedy Is Still My Favorite Robert De Niro Movie
Surely this is not the movie you immediately think of when someone says “Robert De Niro” — although it should be!
Usually when we think of Robert De Niro, we picture him in intense roles, perhaps as a mobster James Conway in Goodfellas or as the dark-hearted vigilante he was in Taxi Driver. Well, that's no surprise. These films are iconic and a huge part of De Niro's life and journey to stardom.
However, there's a 69% rated mobster comedy that, while not one of De Niro's top films, still holds a special place in my heart and proves that a crime movie starring De Niro as a mafia boss can still be an entertaining and comedic experience.
In Analyze This, De Niro plays Paul Vitti, a mobster dealing with panic attacks that threaten his tough-guy persona and his organized crime empire. It’s funny that the movie was released in 1999, the same year The Sopranos premiered as well (but it’s a coincidence).
“It really is not that unique when you think of the premise and not the context. ‘Guy has a problem but circumstance makes the problem harder than normal’ is the basic idea behind a lot of comedy, just switch out specifics, Redditor Cookie_Flimsy said.
So, desperate to get help (just like Tony), he seeks the guidance of Dr. Ben Sobel, played brilliantly by the amazing comedic actor Billy Crystal. The doctor is actually a kindhearted psychiatrist, for whom the tandem he has created with Vitti is a way out of his depth.
What follows from this unlikely alliance is a bizarre story with so many hilarious moments and surprisingly heartfelt scenes that this movie could easily be a perfect representation of when comedy and crime go perfectly together.
While there are plenty of funny moments, the movie also takes a deeper look at the struggles of mental health and the human need for connection. And makes sure we understand that even these tough guys will need it one day. The film got a sequel in 2022, but it didn't receive as many glowing reviews as the original.
“Analyze This is so good. I’ve watched it many times and still get lots of laughs out of it every time. I remember not really liking Analyze That, but I’ve only watched it once, so maybe I need to give it another watch and form my opinions again,” Redditor MoreBlu said.
Analyze This is available to stream on Prime Video.
