Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Candida It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

gridoon2018 If there were no credits and nobody told you, it would be impossible to guess that this mob comedy was directed by Brian De Palma. The premise has comic possibilities (two good-natured, low-ranking hoodlums who also happen to be best friends are ordered to kill each other), but the story soon abandons that premise; this film is too touchy-feely for a black comedy. There is also a problem in the chemistry between Danny De Vito and Joe Piscopo: De Vito is full of energy, but sometimes he seems to be playing alone because Piscopo can't keep up with him. But the biggest problem is that the movie is short on laughs - I laughed out loud only twice: at De Vito's "Are You Talking' To Me?" impression at the start, and in the "Just do what I do!" scene in the church. Cute Italian-flavored music score by Ira Newborn. *1/2 out of 4.

MisterWhiplash Let's just say it up front: Brian De Palma doesn't direct comedies, at least not as a major part of his career. When he's done so it's usually in the realm of black comedies or satires, like his early films (Greetings/Hi Mom) or the rightfully maligned Bonfire of the Vanities. His sense of comedy is BIG (note the caps) and broad, but his farce is nowhere near the kind of genius of Mel Brooks. His slapstick is so large and spread out in scenes that it makes Looney Tunes look subtle (having Captain Lou Albino as one of the main bad-guys, the "Fixer" as he's called, is part of it). And the story is fairly idiotic too.Yet I found myself enjoying Wise Guys, but for the little it aimed for. This isn't a grand vision like De Palma would immediately after go for in The Untouchables and Casualties of War. It was a trifle, a way to test himself in a low budget with actors he hadn't worked with before- chiefly stars Danny De Vito and (yes, star) Joe Piscapo. They play grunts whose job is to serve at the behest of mob boss Castelo (Dan Hedaya, hamming it up like it's nobody's business). When the two dopes lay a bet on a horse that isn't the one Castelo bet on and loses, they're each given a charge: each must kill the other to prove loyalty.This, of course, is another set-up for a series of missteps in the two knuckleheads running away from the Castelo bosses, all the way down in Atlantic City as Harry tries to find his Uncle Mike, very much dead. The subtitle for the film could be called 'Wackiness Ensues', and De Palma doesn't let anything go past as being unnoticeable. Particularly is one scene, perhaps De Palma's most daring (or just recognizably 'De Palma) cinematographic-ally when Harry has to go turn on 'the car' that might explode any moment (the shot speeds up and does a 360 as everyone runs away from the scene, a hoot-take on his usual style). And in the script, some lines of dialog and set-ups are so blunt you can feel the force at the back of your head.But somehow, against all of the odds of the 'ho-hum' quality of the set-up, it's fun because of the acting. Joe Piscapo is mentioned today, just his name, as a punch-line, but there was a time when he was at least halfway amusing (mostly in skits with Eddie Murphy on SNL), and here he's let loose with the a character like Moe who, I guess compared to Harry, is the straight guy depending on the scene. Harry, meanwhile, gives Danny De Vito a real chance to chomp at the bit: he's so over the top, but he's also a believable luck-believer (he goes for it the way Bible-thumpers go for God), and in those moments when Piscapo falls totally flat, somehow De Vito comes back in to make things fun in the delirious way. Others like Lou Albino and, on a more subtle-menacing scale, Harvey Keitel, do a competent job in their roles.So, going in and expecting a really great comedy or just an interesting piece of art will mean some disappointment. As a juicy diversion that ask for nothing except a few chuckles by way of the New Jersey Turnpike, it does its job reasonably well; De Palma fans who find themselves going through his thrillers and blockbusters first will come across this, possibly, last in his catalog. But it's far from his worst.

eric262003 I got to hand it to you all. Brian De Palma is an extremely versatile director. In the eighties, he created excruciating masterpieces like "Scarface", which was violent and brutal, but very effective. Shortly after "Scarface", De Palma creating another gut-wrenching psychological thriller "Body Double". Then in 1986, after the success of those two masterpieces of films, he decided it was time to go light on us and to likely poke fun of his Italian roots by giving us a comical caper known as "Wise Guys." To me it was and still is one of the funnier comedies of all time.A brilliant ensemble of terrific actors like Danny Devito, Joe Piscopo and Harvey Keitel among others, compliment the script by George Gallo and the production by Aaron Russo. De Palma succeeds at every chance he gets to keep you entertained and to have you rolling on the floor with laughter with every line, every quip and the performers look like they're having a good time which makes this comedy a hit.The story is about two friends Harry (Devito) and Moe (Piscopo) who reside from New Jersey who also work for a ruthless mob boss (Dan Hedaya). Both friends have ambitions to one day take their place as the cream of the crop and to have their own cronies. Right now, they're at the lower echelons of the mob family, acting as gophers to their boss, doing petty chores like laundry and stuff. One day, the scheming Harry makes a deal with his boss to get him to bet on the wrong horse at the tracks. That way Harry and Moe can run off with the money and to get them started in the right path to independence. But that path takes a wrong turn as both friends are forced to tattle on each other. However they don't due to their utmost respect for one another. This doesn't sit well with their boss. So he manipulates both friends to kill one or the other and gives them a pistol each. In the process, the boss' thugs start placing bets to see who'll strike first. When word gets around by the local bartender (Ray Sharkey), the loyal friends cruise off in the Frank The Fixer's (the late Captain Lou Albano) pink Cadillac and drive up to Atlantic City where they pay a visit to see Harry's Uncle Larry. But after the cold response from Harry's aunt, they stay at another friend of Harry's, Bobby (Harvey Keitel) who let's them stay at his casino/hotel. This is the core to where all the zaniness comes along with the quick pace backed up by the various twists that come into the fray. Sure it's a comedy by genre, De Palma throws in the odd twist in the end for good measure to hold his audience with an unexpected gasp. All the cast throw in very funny performances especially Albano, Piscopo and Devitowho literally were at their funniest. After "Wise Guys" their comedy roles started to fizzle. In 1986, this film was garnered with mixed results even though giants like Siskel and Ebert praised this movie, this is the film dumb comedies like today can look up to for inspiration as a way to show how comedy is really done. Even after 23 years of it's release, it still is a fun film to watch and it still makes me roll on the floor laughing.

endzoneartimis Sure DePalma is not known for comedy, but this movie has a lot of laughs. A great one is Frank the Fixers toe nail cutting scene. Yea toe nails!It's not high brow comedy but Devito and Piscopo work well together. Harry and Moe are small time runners who are not cut out for mob life and look to escape it after a mishap at a race track. The two lifelong friends are then hired to do each other in. It was nice to see a more humane side of characters in a mob movie, then the good fellas or Saprano type shoot them up with no remorse. I would suggest this movie to people who like to laugh or nice twists in plots. Most of the movie buffs I know never heard of this movie but don't let that detract you. Remember we all heard of Titanic and that movie sucked!