Johnny Dangerously (1984)

47% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(8,644 ratings)

This spoof of the 1930s and '40s crime stories ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime as it tells the story of Johnny Dangerously (Byron Thames as the young Johnny, Michael Keaton as the older), a devoted son to his ailing mother (Maureen Stapleton), so ill that she needs money for several… More This spoof of the 1930s and '40s crime stories ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime as it tells the story of Johnny Dangerously (Byron Thames as the young Johnny, Michael Keaton as the older), a devoted son to his ailing mother (Maureen Stapleton), so ill that she needs money for several operations. Johnny has nowhere to turn, and because gangsters tend to flourish in his neighborhood he goes to work for Dundee, a benevolent godfather-gangster type, in order to cover his mother's medical bills. Johnny hides his association with Dundee from his younger brother Tommy (Griffin Dunne) and goes so far as to pay for Tommy's law school fees -- supporting him until Tommy joins the staff of the local (and corrupt) district attorney's office for Burr (Danny DeVito). When Johnny starts working for Dundee, he clashes with the evil Vermin (Joe Piscopo) right from the beginning, but things only get worse. After Dundee decides to retire, Johnny ascends to the helm, and it does not look like Vermin is going to take that sitting down. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Amy Heckerling
Genres: Comedy, Drama

In Theaters: Dec 21, 1984 Wide
On DVD: Aug 27, 2002
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Keaton in starring role helps, but overall average laughs.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Good spoof of The Roaring Twenties
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Sorta funny for a while, but it runs out of ammo long before it's over
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
I know I shouldn't like this film, but dammit, it's just so gloriously exuberantly silly that there's no use condemning it.
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
A mob comedy that shoots only blanks.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
Everything about it is hilarious and has slipped into the ranks of pop culture legend.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The jokes are largely silly, sometimes juvenile, and they come faster at the start of the movie than at the end.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the film doesn't just run out of laughs; it becomes positively leaden by the last half hour.

Read all 8 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

xGary X

This pastiche of old school gangster films has a couple of funny moments, but spread over 90 minutes it soon wears out it's welcome.
Michael G

The Indian mobster was hilarious!
Dean M

Not bad of wild spoof 1930's gangster film.
Jared H

A little-known 80's comedy that me and my family find quite funny...lots of quoteable lines here.

Cast

            Michael Keaton as Johnny Dangerously

            Joe Piscopo as Vermin

            Marilu Henner as Lil

            Maureen Stapleton as Mom

            Peter Boyle as Dundee

            Griffin Dunne as Tommy

            Richard Dimitri as Maroni

            Glynnis O'Connor as Sally

            Byron Thames as Young Johnny

            Danny DeVito as Burr

            Dom DeLuise as The Pope

            Ray Walston as Vendor

            Elizabeth Arlen as Girl on Steps

            Mike Bacarella as Vito

            Sudie Bond as Cleaning Lady

            Dick Butkus as Arthur

            Ron Carey as Pat

            Mike Finneran as Prisoner

            Hank Garrett as Mayor

            Chuck Hicks as Governor

            Katie La Bourdette as Blond Girl

            Trisha Long as Female Butler

            Dean Miller as Photographer

            Jack Nance as Priest

            Harvey Parry as Policeman

            Paul B. Price as Prisoner

            Hal Riddle as Warden

            Will Seltzer as Prisoner

            Troy W. Slaten as Young Tommy

            Cynthia Szigeti as Mrs. Capone

            Leonard Termo as Tony Scarano

            Scott Thomson as Charley

            Richard Warwick as Prisoner

            Gary  Watkins as Manny

            Jeffrey Weissman as T-Shirt Vendor

            Bob Eubanks as M.C.

            Carl Gottlieb as Dr. Magnus

            Alan Hale Jr. as Desk Sergeant

            Neal Israel as Dr. Zillman

            Rick Rosenthal as Judge

            Richard A. Roth as Prisoner Rabbi

            Norman Steinberg as Reporter Duffy

            Dick Balduzzi as Prisoner

            Georg Olden as Young Vermin

            Shelley Pogoda as Woman

            Frank Slaten as Henchman

            Mike Fenton
            
            Jane Feinberg
            
            Russell Forte as Hood

            Michael Joy as Chorus Girl

            Jerome Michaels as Reporter Diering

            Edward Short as Porter

            Gordon Zimmerman
            
See full cast