I recently picked up the double pack of 1999’s Analyze This and 2002’s Analyze That and ended up watching them back-to-back. This is a peculiar one, as I was sure I had seen both of these, but I actually hadn’t. Analyze This has a lot going for it; it was written and directed by the legendary Harold Ramis, and it stars Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro. I thought that this had some laughs, but I am not sure I would be in a rush to watch this again.
Where to Watch Analyze This
Analyze Thiswas released on March 5, 1999. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video.
The Movie Review: Analyze This
Billy Crystal plays the role of a guy called Ben Sobel. In many ways, Ben kind of reminds me of Billy Crystal’s character from City Slickers, which was released the better part of a decade earlier. Ben is a psychiatrist, and he is a bit bored with his life; his patients are not all that exciting, and he has a wedding coming up, so he is pretty distracted, so distracted, he ends up rear-ending a car!
Robert De Niro Shines as Mob Boss Paul Vitti
The thing here is that this was no normal car, this car belonged to a man called Paul Vitti. Paul Vitti is played by Robert De Niro and he is a mob boss, thankfully, Jelly, one of Paul’s main guys, takes the blame for the accident, but Ben gives him his business card anyway. Paul is having a rough time of it; a rival mob leader has their eyes on his position, and to make matters worse, Paul is having some real personal problems.
A Mafia Comedy with Unexpected Depth
It is decided that Paul should seek therapy, and thankfully, Jelly still has Ben’s business card, so Paul ends up seeking therapy from Paul. You get all the mafia and Robert De Niro cliches that you would expect here, and I thought that Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro were fun together, especially as Ben starts to realize just who he is working with here. As you would expect, Ben and Paul start to bond and become friends as they do.
Classic De Niro Humor Meets Billy Crystal Wit
If you have never seen this movie, it is exactly what you would expect a comedy about a mob boss seeking therapy would be like. They really lean into the Robert De Niro classic gangster stuff here in a fun way, and Billy Crystal’s reaction to this world is a lot of fun. I think that they did a good job of making Paul seem like a much more rounded character than just a ruthless mob boss who would kill anyone who got in his way.
Worth a Watch for Fans of 90s Comedies
While I did not see this when it came out in 1999, although, for years, I was sure I had seen this! I can see why back when the movie was released, this was a big hit and it was a novel approach to see De Niro in this kind of role. He really leaned into the comedy world in the 90s and especially the 00s and he was and still is fantastic at it. Billy Crystal is pretty much playing your typical middle-aged, not sure about his life, Billy Crystal, that he does very well.
Final Thoughts on Analyze This and Its Sequel
I am glad that I watched this and I will keep this double pack in my collection. I would not say it is the best De Niro or Billy Crystal movie, but it was fun to watch, while chowing down on some snacks. I do think that the sequel was completely unnecessary and if it were not a two pack, I think I may have not kept Analyze That in my collection.
