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.
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.