Analyze This (1999)

68% of critics liked it
(101 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(206,368 ratings)

In the same year that a hit cable television series, The Sopranos, successfully mined the same premise, this comedy about a mobster seeking advice from a psychiatrist was a box office winner for director Harold Ramis. Billy Crystal stars as Dr. Ben Sobel, a New York shrink who's becoming a little… More In the same year that a hit cable television series, The Sopranos, successfully mined the same premise, this comedy about a mobster seeking advice from a psychiatrist was a box office winner for director Harold Ramis. Billy Crystal stars as Dr. Ben Sobel, a New York shrink who's becoming a little bored with his upscale but neurotic clientele. Into Sobel's practice comes a guy with legitimate problems, Mafia kingpin Paul Viti (Robert DeNiro), a godfather who is being reduced to tears and panic attacks by stress and his guilt over his beloved father's assassination. Intimidated but also fascinated by Viti, Dr. Sobel becomes frustrated when his mob boss patient becomes a full-time occupation, as Viti summons the psychiatrist for his professional help at all hours and in all places, even including the doctor's Florida wedding to TV reporter Laura MacNamara (Lisa Kudrow). In the meantime, a power struggle is brewing with Viti's long-time rival Primo Sidone (Chazz Palminteri), but Viti begins employing the feel-good self-help jargon and techniques he's learned from Dr. Sobel to keep his enemy off balance. Just as the therapist and his powerful patient are making breakthroughs, the FBI attempts to persuade Sobel that Viti is going to have him murdered, leading to a nearly lethal misunderstanding. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Harold Ramis
Written By: Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis, Ken Lonergan
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 5, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Aug 17, 1999
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
[De Niro and Crystal] would seem to be perfectly cast as this oddest of odd couples, but something has gone wrong with the comic chemistry.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
What De Niro ends up doing is simply burlesquing himself, much as he would do if he were guest-hosting Saturday Night Live.
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
What we learn -- yet again -- is that potentially terrific comedies are often whacked by filmmakers who feel the need to spread a little therapy themselves.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Moments and lines are so perfect that they linger in the mind.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
It's a treat to watch Robert De Niro -- the goodfella supreme -- tweak every gangster role he's ever played.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Slick and rambunctious!
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Thanks to three very strong writers...and the willpower of its leads, Analyze This turns out to be an amusing piffle. [Blu-ray]
, Film4
It all ends in a hail of bullets and profanities -- but the laughs keep coming.
Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review
Sometimes very funny, but wears its sudden tone swings and flurries of profanities like a pair of cement shoes...
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
It's a one-joke movie, but it's an awfully good joke, told here by experts.
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
Not since Midnight Run has Mr. De Niro been afforded such a perfect opportunity to flex his comedic muscles.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
Even though it's only March, Analyze This is going to be the comedy to beat this year - nothing else so far has come close.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The comedy is heavy and the use of the stars lazy and cliched...
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Robert De Niro gets the best out of his performance as the psychologically- challenged gangster.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
In Midnight Run (1988), De Niro and Charles Grodin made a wonderful team, but the pair in Analyze This doesn't seem to click in the same way.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
A witty, upbeat comedy that is more concerned with making its audience laugh than any other of its cinematic virtues (or lack thereof).
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Nothing new, especially for its stars, but it's good fun nonetheless.
Tom Meek, Film Threat
Unfortunately for every gag that DeNiro and Crystal pull off -- and they do have an effective comedic chemistry -- the script strands them in eddies of frivolity.
James Rocchi, Netflix
You don't go into Analyze This expecting to be surprised; you go into it hoping to be amused. Using that yardstick, the film is a terrific success.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Flaws aside, in the end Analyze This comes across with the goods -- crooked guys and straight-up laughs.

Read all 21 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Billy Crystal and Rober DeNiro shine in this great comedy.
Lady D

Quite a funny take on the pre Soprannos Crime boss in need of therapy, which allowed De Niro a familiar genre to provide the comical slant. An enjoyable performance from Billy Crystal. The first half is definitely better than the second, but it's still worth a watch.
Melvin W

Dr. Ben Sobel: What is my goal here, to make you a happy, well-adjusted gangster? "New York's most powerful gangster is about to get in touch with his feelings" Analyze This is a mob-comedy done right. It is an excellent spoof of gangster films, with two great and… More
Dr. Ben Sobel: What is my goal here, to make you a happy, well-adjusted gangster? "New York's most powerful gangster is about to get in touch with his feelings" Analyze This is a mob-comedy done right. It is an excellent spoof of gangster films, with two great and funny performances from Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. The supporting cast is very recognizable. You may not know all of their names, but odds are you've seen most of them in a mob movie before. The premise itself is good and the execution is hilarious. The movie centers around a mob boss who is having anxiety attacks. Because of this problem he enlists the help of a psychiatrist. At first the shrink is a little skeptical about being around a gangster, but over time... well you know. For a genre(mob-comedy) that has a lot of terrible movies, Analyze This stands high, high above the rest. There are a few scenes that are truly beyond hilarious and for the most part the whole movie was funny. You can't really beat De Niro spoofing his own roles from the past. The film has a lot of references to other mob movies like The Godfather. Everything about the movie works well together and really makes for an enjoyable experience.
moon r

old formula for buddy movies: "we don't want to be buddies, but we have to be, and damn it if we're not startin' to like it!" likable leads carry this off, but watch for joe viterelli as a charming second banana to add glue to the works.
Richard C

C+
Dean !

A good fun adult comedy about a mafia boss suffering from panic attacks! It has some very funny scenes and kinda spoofs mafia films as well. Well worth watching.
Wahida K

This cause me very bad headache but I think because of the LOL s moments. And the sequel too.
Conner R

A nice team up of Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal, but it is no classic. The film rests upon the performances and has a very basic plot without any depth. The filming style is nothing special and has no personality. It is a shallow attempt to capitalize on two big movie stars.
Anthony L

I didn't find it that funny.
Film C

Being the first one this is brilliant i love it i really do love these movies robert de niro is brilliant and i love billy crystal as well i love these movies and they really are hilarious
Cassie H

Loved it. Loved the humor of De Niro, and Crystal!!!
Rachel F

Funny movie with the wonderful Robert De Niro
Curtis L

so dumb.
Red L

overall it's breezy fun
Jason S

eh
Leigh R

It was okay.
Stuart B

Nice acting with a weak script
Khris N

A really good one!! De Niro and Crystal make a good team.
Cameron J

Who would have guessed that Robert De Niro - a squint-faced, New York Italian-accented man - would be so funny? Well, if I can't remember what happened, then he probably wasn't quite funny enough. As entertaining as this film is, it's forgettable, as well as… More
Who would have guessed that Robert De Niro - a squint-faced, New York Italian-accented man - would be so funny? Well, if I can't remember what happened, then he probably wasn't quite funny enough. As entertaining as this film is, it's forgettable, as well as underdeveloped, mildly inconsistent at points and with the occasional slow spot. Still, while there's nothing too memorable about this film, it's still offbeat and satisfying when you're in the moment, thanks to the good dialogue and sharp humor. I also liked how this was almost a satire on the gangster genre, but was subtle and effective. Of course, what really needs to be touched upon are the surprisingly solid performances by De Niro and Crystal. They both have a sharp comedic presence, but also get to show off some genuine acting ability to make their characters compelling, though not to where their hilarity is phased out. Ultimately, though there's little to discuss and even less remember about it, "Analyze This" remains a reasonably offbeat and satisfying comedy with sharp humor and even some compellingness carried by excellent performances by De Niro and Crystal.
Dannielle A

Too many swear words. But it was funny. If it was less vulgar I would like it more. (But of course you need to make mobsters seem real so you gotta make em swear a little...)

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Robert De Niro as Paul Vitti

            Billy Crystal as Ben Sobel

            Lisa Kudrow as Laura MacNamara

            Joe Viterelli as Jelly

            Chazz Palminteri as Primo Sindone

            Bill Macy as Isaac Sobel

            Leo Rossi as Carlo Mangano

            Kyle Sabihy as Michael Sobel

            Rebecca Schull as Dorothy Sobel

            Molly Shannon as Caroline

            Max Casella as Nicky Shivers

            Pat Cooper as Salvatore Masiello

            Richard C. Castellano as Jimmy

            Jimmie Ray Weeks as Agent Steadman

            Elizabeth Bracco as Marie Vitti

            Tony Darrow as Moony

            Donnamarie Recco as Sheila

            Michael Harkins as Paretti's Family

            Bart Tangredi
            
            Dave Corey
            
            Frank Pietrangolare
            
            Joseph Rigano
            
            Kresimir Novakovic
            
            Michael Straka
            
            Tony Bennett
            
See full cast