An action-packed slog

Absolutely Fantastic

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

I like how movies can sometimes parallel my own life: this movie is about a head of family compelled to change his daily life to be rich while from this week, I try also to change my bad habits to gain more audition. So as the expected addiction movies, we have the necessary up and down moments of rehabilitation but strangely, this plot comes late in the movie: before that, we have his fun (loose) life with friends exposed and the wedding of his prude daughter played by Jenny. In a whole, the movie is a bit disjointed but what a fun it is! I discover this Rodney with Caddyshack in which he was really crazy and here, he repeats the same flair for fun: it's cool to have a comedy man with such physical presence and sharp humor because there are no more like them in today American movies! He is a sort of Al Bundy on screen with the difference that his family is much more educated and serious and each family member has something (funny) to do. At last, the movie has a great nostalgic value: we see a lot of talented names in their young (Jenny, great Joe Pesci, slim Jeffrey Jones) and this 80s America was indeed a cool place to live! So you got working family + life in NYC borough + laughs all along the movie so I can't imagine how you could be disappointed ???

Monty Capuletti (Rodney Dangerfield) drinks too much, smokes too much, and gambles too much. He carouses with Nicky Cerone (Joe Pesci) and Paddy (Tom Noonan). His wife Rose (Candy Azzara) loves him but his ruthless widower mother-in-law Mrs. Monahan (Geraldine Fitzgerald) hates the baby photographer lacking ambition. She owns a department store and Clive Barlow (Jeffrey Jones) is her assistant. Monty's daughter Allison (Jennifer Jason Leigh) marries Julio (Taylor Negron) but she runs home after her failed wedding night. When his mother-in-law dies, Monty inherits most of the $10 million estate but only after a year of clean living. If he fails, Barlow gets it.Rodney Dangerfield makes me happy. He is utterly lovable. He makes this funny. I don't know if it would work with anybody else. I also like the side story with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Taylor Negron. The great thing here is Dangerfield as the lovable schlub and the audience roots for him. I would like a denser level of laughs but this one keep me smiling throughout.

This was really the first true Rodney Dangerfield vehicle. It was clearly written with Rodney in mind, or at least edited to fit him after he signed on. As a result, a lot of scenes go nowhere and seem completely random - they're just showcases for some of that famous Rodney Humor. If another actor were cast in the role, the movie would be terrible because the flaws would be outstanding. But when it's Rodney, it all seems to fall into place.The plot involves Rodney's mother-in-law dying and leaving him her fortunes in her will - but only if he cleans up his act first. He has to stop smoking, drinking, doing drugs, and must begin eating healthier.Of course, this can't hold up an entire movie, so the first 35 minutes or so has nothing to do with the rest of the plot. It shows Rodney at home, it shows him hanging out with Joe Pesci, gambling, going to a strip club, etc. Then there is a really bizarre subplot involving his daughter's wedding that contains one long, rambling scene (without Rodney, surprisingly) that goes nowhere.However, Rodney fans will find his typical humor here to enjoy. It may not be as coherent as "Back to School" but it is still a fine showcase for his comedic talents and reveals why Rodney Dangerfield was one of the best comedians of all-time, regardless of how bad the movies he starred in usually were.

I am not a huge fan of this film, but I've got to admit that it will most likely make you laugh. It's extremely low-brow and has a lot of cheap laughs, but sometimes a movie like this is exactly what you might need. In other words, nothing deep or requiring your full attention--just a silly movie. To me, this movie is nearly as funny as Dangerfield's follow-up film, BACK TO SCHOOL and both are fun time-passers.The plot, such as it is, is really just an excuse to watch Rodney tell a lot of dopey jokes and get in stupid situations. He is ably assisted by a pre-mafia days Joe Pesci--an amiable friend who tries to keep Rodney from losing the money left to him by his battleaxe mother-in-law in her will--provided he STOP drinking, gambling and lose weight. The end is particularly satisfying and it's a fun romp.