Well Deserved Praise

The Worst Film Ever

one of my absolute favorites!

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

Wise Guys (1986)*** (out of 4)Losers Harry (Danny DeVito) and Moe (Joe Piscopo) are at the bottom of the food chain in the Mafia but they find themselves wanted men after they don't place a bet for the local boss (Dan Hedaya). The two head off to Atlantic City to try and find a way to stay alive but soon The Fixer (Lou Albano) is hot on their trail.WISE GUYS isn't the greatest comedy ever made but it's an interesting change of pace for director Brian DePalma who was coming off the less than successful BODY DOUBLE. That film, as well as SCARFACE, weren't huge hits with critics or fans at the time of their release so it's interesting to see the director turn to comedy before following this up with THE UNTOUCHABLES.A lot of this film's success has to go to the supporting cast. Hedaya is quite entertaining in his role of the crime boss and we also get a nice turn by Harvey Keitel who plays another crime boss. DeVito himself is quite funny throughout the movie since it allows him to play up that wild side of his. Personally speaking I've never been the biggest fan of Piscopo but he actually had some nice chemistry here with DeVito. The movie stealer has to be Albano as the overweight murderer who is constantly losing his cool. He's certainly the funniest thing in the film.Story-wise there's really nothing ground-breaking here or anything too funny but WISE GUYS is a good little gem that at least will leave a smile on your face.

This is one of the goofy-est films about the mob ever made, and what a treat that can be. It's silly, unconventional and actually a lot of fun. It didn't deserve the "all bad" reviews it has gotten. It's enjoyable only if you take it in its dumb-silly 'spoofing' context. Not just about making fun of 'the mob', but about two New Jerseyians who wants to be "the big guy" stuck in a little situation. But...in this film, these two guys want to just be accepted by "the big guys" which just happens to be the neighborhood Jersey mob.The film goes against everything we were familiar with in mob films up until this time - it's a low-low-rent Godfather tale with two bumbling 'wanna-bes' soldiers played by Danny DeVito and Joe Piscapo. They grew up the best of friends in this mob neighborhood, but obviously do not have the style, skills or connections as their other 'made' neighbors. Their higher associated mob neighbors consider them the laughing stock and annoying as gnats at a picnic. And the mob jobs they do get are no more than minuscule to say the least (pick up the dry cleaning, get the coffee). But things change as an 'important', but fairly common, mob assignment is finally given for each to be carried out.The jokes are silly and ...regional. Similar feel to those in Rodney Dangerfields' "Easy Money". Does that mean ya gotta be a New Jerseyian to figure it out? No, but it helps. The supporting characters are seemingly over blown caricatures of Piscapo's SNL "You from Jersey, I'm from Jersey" routines and of much better mob films up to 1985 -- which is why in some parts this was actually funny. DeVito was funny (and yes, sometimes annoying) as the "almost, but not quite" wanta fit in (and really should have by lineage) mob Italian soldier who's Jewish friend (Piscapo) may have been holding him back. But that's the rub as they say, the friendship between these two, that not even the New Jersey mob can touch.

I bought this when the DVD came out as I try to do with all of Brian De Palma's movies. I had waited to see this one for a while and I was sadly displeased when I watched it. I thought it would be a real comedy and be funny, but is just what it is. Nothing happens that can be called funny or moving. I was not emotionally stirred through the whole movie and felt like I had just wasted two hours of my life. This and Sisters are De Palma's worst I say to everyone never watch these turkeys. Danny Devitto is usually a solid actor and can make me laugh but he has nothing to work with in this film. Joe Piscipo acts crappy as usual and I still can't stand him. What was De Palma thinking when he made this other than needing a check. He does not even have his signature style in this film the only thing that lets you know it's him is a shoddy 360 shot that he does in most of his films. Do your self a favor and avoid this one.

I've just caught it on TCM and can't wait the 5 weeks till it comes out on DVD. This is a gangster spoof at its best, full of lovable characters well played by top actors of the mob genre. Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo make a great loser couple, Dan Hedaya stars as the dreary mob boss, whose henchmen include Frank Vincent and hilarious Lou Albano that steals every scene he's in. We even get to see Harvey Keitel in a classy supporting role! The plot is simple and has been done before and after, but rarely with such charm and lightness. With a current rating of 5.2, it's a severely underrated gangster comedy able to deliver entertaining evening for every fan of the genre.