What can I say a Harold Ramis film that United a very awkward pairing of actors.
Robert De Niro as a gangster, Billy Crystal as a psychiatrist. And with actor Joe Viterelli in the mix it felt like a Three Stooges homage. With De Niro in the Moe role ,Crystal in the Larry role and Big Joe in the Curly role. there was even some slapping Schick when Crystal slaps around Joe at the end of the film!?
I heard that that Robin Williams and Tom Hanks were considered for the doctor Sobel role. It would have been such a treat to see Williams take the role but then again he could have stole the whole movie from De Niro and I don't know if that's would have been a good idea or the intention. Hank's would have also made a interesting choice and to see Hanks and De Niro together would have been a pleasure also. but all in all I believe Harold Ramis made the right choice and stuck with Billy Crystal as he and DeNiro had very good chemistry together. the always lovely and kooky Lisa Kudrow did a good job in her role as Crystal's fiance. She held her own in the supporting role against these powerful actors and even though she had no chemistry with Crystal she did try her best and tried to make it believable in a Friends' like Phoebe like way. SNL's Molly Shannon had a bit cameo role which was amusing at best. Bill Macy as Crystal's father had a very small bit role and was wasted. so was Elizabeth Bracco as De Niro's wife she had a very very small bit role and was completely wasted. Leo Rossi had a nice small role as De Niro's cousin and played it very well and Jimmy Ray weeks was once again in a Robert De Niro film they had worked together in Midnight Run where Jimmy Ray had also played an FBI agent. it was very nice to see character actor Tony DiBenedetto at the end as one of the gangsters at the mafia meeting and what appears to be his last film since he hasn't filmed anything ever since and last but not least to have the great Tony Bennett singing Crystal and Kudrow a song which ends the movie and goes into credits
I heard that that Robin Williams and Tom Hanks were considered for the doctor Sobel role. It would have been such a treat to see Williams take the role but then again he could have stole the whole movie from De Niro and I don't know if that's would have been a good idea or the intention. Hank's would have also made a interesting choice and to see Hanks and De Niro together would have been a pleasure also. but all in all I believe Harold Ramis made the right choice and stuck with Billy Crystal as he and DeNiro had very good chemistry together. the always lovely and kooky Lisa Kudrow did a good job in her role as Crystal's fiance. She held her own in the supporting role against these powerful actors and even though she had no chemistry with Crystal she did try her best and tried to make it believable in a Friends' like Phoebe like way. SNL's Molly Shannon had a bit cameo role which was amusing at best. Bill Macy as Crystal's father had a very small bit role and was wasted. so was Elizabeth Bracco as De Niro's wife she had a very very small bit role and was completely wasted. Leo Rossi had a nice small role as De Niro's cousin and played it very well and Jimmy Ray weeks was once again in a Robert De Niro film they had worked together in Midnight Run where Jimmy Ray had also played an FBI agent. it was very nice to see character actor Tony DiBenedetto at the end as one of the gangsters at the mafia meeting and what appears to be his last film since he hasn't filmed anything ever since and last but not least to have the great Tony Bennett singing Crystal and Kudrow a song which ends the movie and goes into credits