Was going to rate it a "1", but it's a Sunday, and while not a particularly good Christian, I can't in good conscience, do that...Furthermore, the "Spoiler" box was checked simply because I don't want to get into any trouble here although I don't expect to reveal anything about the movie - it was the better part of 15 years ago, and I only wish to say specifically is that the trailer contained ALL of the funny lines in the movie, so if you are going there for the humor of it - considering Billy Crystal and all - save your money and watch the trailer instead...Fact is the only reason I am here now is because I just wrote about this movie elsewhere, and thought "I should go stick my two cents in where it probably don't belong, so here I am...The Missus and I are a couple of Geezers - so take this one with the proverbial 'grain of salt'... We are major fans of Deniro AND Billy Crystal, having seen, as far as we know, ALL of the movies they've been in, AND we don't want to say anything bad about them - just the movie - it suked... I left out the 'c' on purpose, just to make the point it was so bad I am not going to waste a perfectly good 'c' on it, either...No we did not bother to even think about the follow-up movie they made - sequel, I think they call them, so I guess we haven't seen 'all' of their films... Sorry about that...Why did I bother? Basically, I think it's just for the 'Geezer' Set, who likely need to be careful with their entertainment dollars... So, the rest of you, hopefully, ignored this... LOL...Bless...

Analyze This is a gangster comedy film that stars Robert De Niro as a mafioso and Billy Crystal as a psychiatrist.This film about a mobster seeking advice from a psychiatrist.Lisa Kudrow,Chazz Palminteri and Joe Viterelli co-star play key supporting roles.It was directed by Harold Ramis, who co-wrote the screenplay with playwright Kenneth Lonergan and Peter Tolan. Dr. Ben Sobel is a New York shrink who's becoming a little bored with his upscale but neurotic clientèle. Into Sobel's practice comes a guy with legitimate problems, Mafia kingpin Paul Vitti, a godfather who is being reduced to tears and panic attacks by stress and his guilt over his beloved father's assassination. Intimidated but also fascinated by Vitti, Dr. Sobel becomes frustrated when his mob boss patient becomes a full-time occupation, as Vitti summons the psychiatrist for his professional help at all hours and in all places, even including the doctor's Florida wedding to TV reporter Laura MacNamara. In the meantime, a power struggle is brewing with Vitti's long-time rival Primo Sidone, but Vitti begins employing the feel-good self-help jargon and techniques he's learned from Dr. Sobel to keep his enemy off balance. Just as the therapist and his powerful patient are making breakthroughs, the FBI attempts to persuade Sobel that Vitti is going to have him murdered, leading to a nearly lethal misunderstanding.It's a treat to watch Robert De Niro tweak every gangster role he's ever played as he was afforded such a perfect opportunity to flex his comedic muscles.This make it possible to get the best out of his performance as the psychologically- challenged gangster.This alone is one reason that makes this movie an above average comedy.Overall,it is a witty, upbeat comedy that is more concerned with making its audience laugh than any other of its cinematic virtues.

If there's one thing that cinema taught us: it's the inner comedic value of the gangster world. While they used to portray charismatic and one-dimensionally villainous characters in the Warner Bros pre-Code years, or tormented souls in 40's or 50's film noirs and the French new wave, one movie changed everything: "The Godfather". Francis Ford Coppola's crime epic made a world out of the underworld, a universe with codes and dress codes, names and nicknames, principles such as loyalty, Family, Omerta and as many tight-lips as there were squealers. It put morality in a world of immorality and paved the way to a never-ending fascination between movie lovers and gangsterism.Indeed, no matter how we feel when the ending credits start, the initial feeling is often fascination. And one director in particular made it all the more entertaining because it was grippingly faithful to reality: Martin Scorsese, Marty who was to Gangster films what Ford was to Westerns. His "Goodfellas" provided the most dramatic example of how cruel and amoral the gangster world could be, but how can't anyone laugh at the presentation of a colorful character like Frankie Carbone or "Jimmy Two-Times"? De Niro made his gangster film through "A Bronx Tale" but you couldn't tell when the dramatic homage stopped and the unintentional parody started. It all started with "The Godfather", and Robert De Niro is probably the most emblematic of all the actors who played gangsters. So, it is not surprising for a gangster comedy like "Analyze This" to make the most references to "The Godfather" and to have De Niro as the main protagonist, playing Paul Vitti, a mob leader with deep emotional problem, a Don who is slipping, as would say Virgil 'The Turk' Sollozo (May he rest In Peace). Harold Ramis had the richer source of inspiration and the best actor to carry it, and I guess the reason it worked so well is because, as I said, there's a lot of natural comedy in gangster movies without the need of exaggeration (Brian de Palma's "Scarface" is another brilliant example as a drama full of unintentional comedy) and De Niro doesn't need to force himself to become funny. He made the same mimics in "Casino" and it was not supposed to be a comedy, hell even Brando's performance as Vito Corleone deliberately flirted with caricature."Analyze This" is funny because it doesn't try to be so, as if it was conveying the irony of Joe Pesci's Tommy De Vito who made Henry Hill burst out laughing in "Goodfellas" and then started asking what was so funny, one of the film's most famous scenes. Harold Ramis picked the right tonality, and it was crucial because a parody would have severely damaged the appreciation of the film, there was a spoof-movie of "The Godfather" made one year earlier (Lloyd Bridges' last film), and it was a critical fail. You don't need to make funny parodies of gangster films, just pay tribute to them with a comedic tone. Well, I guess, I made this point very clear, but that's the first thing that elevates the level of "Analyze This". Now, let's get to the second thing that serves the comedy: the presence of a 'straight man', it's the role of Billy Crystal's character, Dr. Sobol, as the psychiatrist who's asked to take care of Vitti, the kind of offer he couldn't, for his greatest displeasure, refuse. Now, just imagine yourself facing Vito or Michael Corleone, or a gangster of the same caliber. You know whatever you say must content him, if a "yes" gives a "no", then say "no", and vice versa. The first interactions between Vitti and Sobol are pure comedic gold, because they always carry this threatening presence. Vitti is vulnerable enough not to get too upset and even cry sometimes, De Niro delivers one of his finest comical performances, proving again his versatility, yet he's also capable to show the face of danger to make himself clear. And Sobol is the outsider; the common man who wants no troubles and yet gets himself stuck in situations none of us would want to be trapped. When he's encountered by Jelly, Vitti's henchman in an aquatic park and refuses to meet Vitti, you find him in a shark aquarium, sometimes, the film allows itself a sort of over-the-top humor, but it's always funny.But if the film works thanks to the Crystal and De Niro pairing, the Auguste and the white- faced clown, the scene-staler is definitely the late mug-faced Joe Vitterelli as Jelly, the man who only understands one language, intimidation, killing, bribing and protecting, the Mafia ABC. When a pedant doctor tells Vitterelli he had an attack, Jelly casually gets up and close the room's curtains, he is the wink to our gangster cinematic knowledge. He's so professional in the way he carries Vitti's tasks that the way he pops us in Sobol's most private lives is absolutely irresistible. If only for De Niro, Crystal and Vitterelli, the film is worth a watch, not to diminish the merit of Lisa Kudrow, weird but efficient as Sobol's fiancé, Chazz Palminteri as Primo Sindone, Vitti's archenemy, and many faces you'd remember from Scorsese's mafia classics.Last point, the film even recreates a scene from "The Godfather", when Vito is shot in the orange stand, and when Sobol reveals to Vitti that he was playing the role of Fredo in the nightmare, Vitti's reaction said it all "I was Fredo, I don't think so?" the film remarkably interferes with the Gangster's pop-culture, denouncing its comical undertones. And it pinnacles in a scene near the end, when Sobol acts like he's the consiglieri of Vitti and try to recall all his gangster memories not to raise suspicions. That's the fundamental basis of "Analyze This" comical genius: if you don't like gangster films, you'll have fun laughing at them, if you like gangster films, you'll love "Analyze This".

'Analyze This' is a complete treat of a comedy. It is so funny & sublime, & the superb performances from it's supremely talented cast only add to it's booty. 'Analyze This' is a comedy about a psychiatrist whose number one-patient is an insecure mob boss. 'Analyze This' has a superb start, middle & end. It's a complete entertainer, that relaxes your mind. The relationship between the psychiatrist & the mob boss is infectious & extremely charming. Paula Weinstein & Jane Rosenthal's Screenplay is first-rate. Harold Ramis's Direction is appropriate. Cinematography is well-balanced. Editing & Art Design are decent.Performance-Wise: De Niro & Billy Crystal are at their funniest best. De Niro, like always, lives his character & gives him an entire ark, while Crystal scores due to his impeccable comic-timing. Also, their On-Screen Rapport is top-notch! Joe Viterelli is lovable. Lisa Kudrow supports well. Chazz Palminteri is as usual. Others leave a mark.On the whole, 'Analyze This' is one fine comedy. I really enjoyed this film!