Analyze That Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mob boss fakes crazy to get out of prison and accidentally forces his therapist into a mid-life crisis involving stolen gold, show tunes, and the worst attempt at a legitimate job search ever conceived.

🍿 Analyze That: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Vitti’s Prison Break (Theatrics)

Paul Vitti, now back in prison, finds his life threatened. To escape, he feigns insanity, capturing the attention of Dr. Ben Sobel. Vitti starts singing show tunes from West Side Story to convince everyone he is mentally unstable. This leads to the FBI intervening and requesting Ben to perform psychiatric tests on Paul to ascertain his condition.

Custody and ‘Rehabilitation’

The FBI, led by Richard Chapin, releases Vitti into Ben’s custody for further therapy, tasking Ben with ensuring Vitti is sane, sober, and employed within a month. Paul reveals to Ben that he was faking his insanity. However, Ben is unaware that the FBI knows this too and has their own agenda to disrupt mafia families. Ben is now stuck between the FBI’s plans and Vitti’s antics.

Legitimate Jobs and Mafia TV

Ben insists that Paul finds a legitimate job, leading to a series of comical failures as a car dealer, restaurant worker, and jewelry store employee due to Paul’s rude manners and paranoia. He lands a job as a technical advisor on a mafia TV series, ‘Little Caesar’. The producers of Little Caesar think he is great, but then the set soon becomes a battle ground

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro): A mafia boss who feigns insanity to get out of prison and seeks therapy from Dr. Sobel.
• Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal): A psychiatrist who is reluctantly pulled back into treating Paul Vitti after Vitti’s release from prison.
• Laura Sobel (Lisa Kudrow): Ben’s wife who is less than thrilled about Paul Vitti’s presence in their lives.
• Jelly (Joe Viterelli): Paul Vitti’s loyal bodyguard and right-hand man.
• Patti LoPresti (Cathy Moriarty): A powerful female mob boss who both distrusts and needs Paul Vitti.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Paul Vitti: “You… you… you’re good! Yes, you are!” – Vitti compliments Ben in a manner reminiscent of his mobster persona, highlighting their unusual relationship.
• Jelly: “It would appear not.” – Jelly’s understated response to Dr. Sobel’s surprise at seeing him out of prison is classic mobster nonchalance.
• Paul Vitti: “I’m in touch with my feelings. I’m afraid I’m gonna get whacked!” – Vitti expresses his fear in therapy, blending gangster life with emotional vulnerability.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $32,130,627
• Worldwide Gross: $55,003,135

💥 Analyze That Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this in theaters and feeling a bit let down. The first movie was so fresh and funny, but this one felt like it was trying too hard. De Niro singing West Side Story was definitely a highlight, and Crystal is always great, but the plot just didn’t grab me. Still, it’s a fun, lighthearted movie to watch when you need a few laughs, especially the car salesman scene. I love the outtakes at the end, those are the best. It is not as good as the first movie.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of crime comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoyed Analyze This”
  • “Fans of Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Adult themes”
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Violence”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While De Niro and Crystal bring their comedic chemistry, the plot feels recycled and lacks the originality of the first film. The movie relies too heavily on familiar tropes and doesn’t offer enough fresh material to justify its existence. A decent rental, but not a must-see.
• Entertainment Weekly: “Analyze That delivers some laughs thanks to the cast’s performances, but the story feels forced and lacks the heart of its predecessor. De Niro’s show tune moments are amusing, but the film ultimately struggles to recapture the magic of the original.

Audience Reactions

Robert De Niro’s comedic performance is a highlight, especially his singing.: Viewers appreciated the chemistry between De Niro and Crystal, but many found the plot weaker than the original.

Billy Crystal’s reactions and comedic timing are still top-notch, but the material isn’t always there to support him.: Although it doesn’t live up to the first movie, ‘Analyze That’ provides some laughs and entertainment.

Overall Consensus: While ‘Analyze That’ offers some funny moments and benefits from the chemistry of De Niro and Crystal, it ultimately falls short of the original due to a weaker plot and a reliance on familiar comedic tropes.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Joe Viterelli, who played Jelly, passed away shortly after filming, making this his final film role.”
• “Robert De Niro’s character singing songs from ‘West Side Story’ was a comedic highlight and a departure from his typical roles.”
• “The TV show ‘Little Caesar’ within the movie, starring Anthony LaPaglia, is a parody of the mafia genre.”

🖥️ How to Watch Analyze That?

Analyze That is available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability in your region. You may also find options for purchasing the DVD or Blu-ray online or at local retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Analyze That, you might like these similar films:

• Analyze This (1999): The first movie in the series, establishing the comedic dynamic between a mob boss and his psychiatrist.
• Mickey Blue Eyes (1999): Another comedy about a man entangled with the mafia through his fiancee, similar to the ‘fish out of water’ scenarios.
• The Freshman (1990): A student gets involved with a mob boss (Marlon Brando) in a comedic situation.
• Grosse Pointe Blank (1997): A hitman going to a high school reunion and finding that his psychiatrist is at the same reunion.

🛒 Analyze That Related Products

• Analyze This (Blu-ray): Relive the original hilarity of ‘Analyze This’ on Blu-ray. A must-have for fans of the series. See where the story began! Revisit the start of the chaos and comedy with this classic movie.
• The Sopranos: The Complete Series (DVD): Delve into the world of ‘The Sopranos’, the television series that inspired parts of the movies’ plot. Experience all the gangster drama and dark comedy on DVD. The Sopranos is a landmark television series that explores the life of a New Jersey mob boss as he balances his criminal activities with his family life.
• Robert De Niro: A Life in Film: Explore the career of one of the greatest actors in history with this comprehensive biography. The book provides detailed insights into De Niro’s journey, his acting techniques, and the cultural impact of his films. Get insight to his best comedic and dramatic roles.
• Mafia Board Game: Test your deception and social deduction skills with Mafia. Based on the popular social game, this board game allows players to become members of the Mafia or innocent townspeople trying to root out the criminals.

🎧 Soundtrack

Analyze That features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Jet Song” – performed by David Holmes
• “I Feel Pretty” – performed by Robert De Niro

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Italian Mafia Car Salesman

Have a good laugh with this clip featuring Robert De Niro’s iconic portrayal of a hilarious Italian mobster trying to be a car salesman. It’s a classic scene that showcases De Niro’s comedic genius and will leave you in stitches.

Analyze This – did you talk to the man

Get ready for a hilarious verbal exchange in this clip from ‘Analyze This.’ The confusion and miscommunication between the characters will leave you laughing out loud. It’s a perfect representation of the film’s ability to blend humor with crime drama.

‘Analyze These’ With Robert De Niro

Go behind the scenes with this revealing interview. Listen to Robert De Niro share his thoughts and experiences on working in ‘Analyze This.’ It’s a great way to gain a deeper understanding of the film and its impact.

Analyze This (1999) Bloopers Outtakes Gag Reel

Join the cast of ‘Analyze This’ for some hilarious bloopers and outtakes. These behind-the-scenes moments will give you a glimpse into the lighter side of filming and show you a different side of your favorite characters.

✨ Rate