Post by StevePulaski on Sept 13, 2017 19:15:12 GMT -5
Ruthless People (1986)
Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker
Directed by: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker
Danny DeVito.
Rating: ★★★
Ruthless People is the last of four explicitly collaborative projects by the directing team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker (ZAZ), which spanned four films from 1977 to 1986. The trio remained close well into the 1990s and 2000s by co-producing or co-writing one another's projects, but not since this unassuming, slapsticky comedy have the three reunited to helm a comedy of their own, collective wheelhouse.
It's positive to say they ended on a high-note together because Ruthless People is a quick-witted, uniquely funny movie. From the film's premise, you'd expect a cynical, mean-spirited affair with a lot of redundant humor, no stakes, and a story tailor-made simply to be without merit. On the contrary, the film manages to effectively accentuate all that the trio can do so well, which is create a zippy comedy filled with energy and committed performances - something David Zucker would later show down the line in The Naked Gun, Abrahams would put to use in Hot Shots!, and Jerry Zucker would continue in Rat Race, which remains his last directorial effort, dating back to 2001.
Ruthless People boils down to a story of a millionaire named Sam Stone (Danny DeVito), who carries an undying hatred for his nagging wife Barbara (Bette Midler) and her insufferable mutt of a dog. His ultimate dream is to murder his wife in order to get her family's $15 million fortune, which would already add to his exorbitant wealth, and run off with his mistress Carol (Anita Morris), whom he has been seeing for years. Upon returning home one day, he realizes his wife is missing, and an anonymous man calls him to say that his wife has been kidnapped only to be returned for a small ransom.
Sam's luck couldn't be better. He deliberately ignores the kidnappers' dire warnings of violence and assurance that his wife will die if the demands are not met. He can't be burdened to care, instead popping champagne and crying crocodile tears to the media, who cover the story around-the-clock.
The kidnappers are Ken and Sandy Kessler (Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater), a couple who wants revenge on Sam for stealing Sandy's fashion prints as well as her life savings. The two hold up Barbara in her basement, where the long-term hostage prompts her to begin exercising using the worst of daytime infomercial television as her tool of motivation. Ken tries to negotiate a lower rate, dropping from $500,000 to just $10,000, to which Sam still replies with no deal.
The film is an engaging comedy made up of both strong performances and competent writing, both of which work in a germane fashion so that one never outweighs the other. This is a touchy premise because of its potential to offput audiences due to its shrill premise, but ZAZ adopt the right tone from the start with this comedy to make it effective and fiercely watchable. Much of the on-screen credit goes to DeVito, who slips into his slithery, slimy role with great comic poise. DeVito has always been the kind of actor you hire when you can't envision anyone else being as manic and large enough for the lead role of a peculiar or unconventional comedy, which is why he works so well playing an unlikable rich-stiff with a deep-rooted contempt for his wife.
But don't sleep on Midler and Reinhold and the great work they do as supporting roles. Midler is another performer who is charismatic as she's larger-than-life, engulfing a movie in its entirety whenever she appears on-screen, and her beady eyes, loud, raspy voice, and and explosive demeanor not only cater to make her character work, but influence what could've been an entirely thankless role. Reinhold brings a wonderful, mulleted every-man energy to his kidnapper character that works well due to his ability to keep cool, yet remain an energetic presence on-screen.
Ruthless People showcases the directing and choreographing talents of ZAZ as a collective, as well as screenwriter Dale Launer's ability to conceive good comic energy (he'd later go on to pen My Cousin Vinny). It works as well as it can without diving too deeply into the bowels of its mean-spirited premise. Aided by the strengths of DeVito, Midler, and Reinhold, the film whips by with the strength that only Zucker and company could conceive.
Starring: Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, and Helen Slater. Directed by: David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker.