Back together. In 2002, a completely optional sequel to the successful comedy “Analyze This” called “Analyze That” was released on the world screens. Having collected all the honors possible for the 1999 comedy, the director and screenwriter Harold Ramis decided to re-enter the same river, continuing the story of the difficult but hilarious relationship of the modest psychologist Ben Sobol performed by Billy Crystal with the dangerous mafia Paul Vitti from Robert De Niro. As you know, the main reason for the continuation of each film project is the box office figures. And here the tape "Analyze it" showed itself from the best side - 80 million budget paid off more than 2 times! Honestly, after watching the second part of the dilogy, you begin to suspect the filmmakers of a banal desire to make a good profit on a popular brand, because “Analyze That” is two heads below the brilliant original. However, with all this watching the sequel weight is equally interesting, easy and relaxed. And to make the project easier to understand, I personally put an imaginary wall between the paintings, because they are too different from each other. And the main difference lies in the acting of Robert De Niro.
So, the plot of the film unfolds 3 years after the end of the first part (just so much time passed between the premieres of the two parts). Authoritative gangster Paul Vitti, who is serving a sentence in the famous Sing Sing prison, is in constant tension - his enemies at large do everything possible to ensure that he never went free. Time after time, Vitti deceives fate and escapes from a bullet, rope or knife of a killer. Realizing that it will only get worse, the gangster decides to pretend completely insane. And guess who is going to analyze it? Of course Dr. Sobol! Mistaking Witty's game for a real illness, the psychiatrist seeks his release, but only under personal care. Having been released, the once authoritative boss begins to play his own game, the success of which will allow him to once and for all get rid of his enemies and live for pleasure.
Robert De Niro We all remember his brilliant performance in the original film. Then he appeared before us as a really influential, tough and dangerous man, who simply cannot be contradicted. And all the more we were struck by his bouts of hysteria and crying, causing considerable dissonance in his image. The second part made of Vitti completely comedic character, which is almost impossible to take seriously. Moreover, our mafia no longer inspires fear or serious respect, no matter how much Harold Ramis tried to cover it up. Vitti went from being a high-level authority to being the commander of a small bandit brigade. His relationship with his friends has also changed. Now everyone can easily enter into an argument with him and not get shot in the forehead. Debunks the myth of the all-powerful Vitti and his attempts to find a job to protect himself from the nagging of the police. We were presented with hilarious scenes in a car dealership, restaurant and jewelry store, where the hero tries to show his talents, but, naturally, without success. I don’t doubt that these moments are insanely funny, but they do not fit well with an old friend Paul Vitti from the first film, despite all his mental anguish. As for the latter, in the second tape they retreat to the second, or even the third plan, because the plot completely excludes drama and takes as a basis a formal comic. This time, we decided not to show off Vitti’s wives and children, but to focus on his relationships with ... prostitutes, assistants led by good old Studna (Joe Viterelli) and enemies. Besides, I can’t help but mention one of the best parts of the picture, where Vitti gives authoritative instructions on the set of a TV show about the mafia. So there will be humor. And there's a lot of it.
Billy Crystal and his character, Dr. Ben Sobol, have undergone absolutely no changes in relation to the original. The psychiatrist continues a peaceful family life with his lovely wife Laura (Lisa Kudrow) and son Michael (Kyle Sabiha). The only detail - the family changed the house and somewhere disappeared a gorgeous fountain, presented to Ben by Vitti himself. Trouble for the hero begins. Naturally, at the moment when the mafia is registered for a month in his monastery and brings his own orders to the measured life of the family. However, we already know that at a critical moment, the doctor is ready to pull himself together and bring the beginnings to the end. The same thing happens in the second film, when Ben becomes an unwitting participant in the dangerous operation of Paul Vitti. As for the relationship between Ben and Laura, for the plot of the picture, they are generally optional and simply have to show us that they still love each other, even though Laura terribly does not accept a dangerous gangster in her abode. In general, it doesn't feel new.
As for the new faces of the project, we were shown the dangerous Lady Patty Lopresti performed by Katie Moriarty. The heroine takes control of the Vitti family (something I do not remember her in the epic events of the last part) and acts either as a friend or an enemy of a suddenly released relative. Present in the film and unequivocally negative character, Lou Rigazzi from Frenk Gio. The only thing I want to say about him is that Rigazzi acts as a classic mafia, waging war against other families. There are no special details of the character. And in the context of an uncomplicated plot, this is not necessary.
In conclusion, I want to say that "Analyze this" is not "Analyze this." The sequel lacks that charming depth and some epic of what is happening, which made the original somewhere even smart entertainment for the evening. “Analyze That” is a pure comedy with an increased amount of vulgar jokes and humor in general, which unravels the myth of the great Paul Vitti. Such changes did not appeal to the audience and the film failed at the box office, not covering not only the budget, but also significant spending on advertising. But, anyway, I got a lot of pleasure from watching the tape of Harold Ramis, which I wish you.
8 out of 10