‘Analyze That’ shrinks in comparison to first

REEL CRITIC

Jeff Klemzak of La Crescenta owns a roofing business.

It seems that most comedy sequels seldom live up to the originals

that inspired them and “Analyze That,” the sequel to the 1999 smash

hit “Analyze This” is no exception.

With virtually the same cast, Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Lisa

Kudrow, etc., the 2002 version, also written and directed by Harold

Ramis, is pretty tame stuff.

The film opens with De Niro’s character, Mafia boss Paul Vitti,

serving a long stretch in Sing Sing. Vitti is feigning insanity and

the FBI suspects this but, with hopes of learning more about the

inner workings of the New York mob, releases him in the care and

custody of his former analyst Dr. Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal).

Much of the humor in this rather ordinary and disjointed feature

relies on slapstick, gross-out situations, an overload of foul

language and a sexual situation or two.

A brief skit involving New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre is a

complete flop, as are several other attempts at comedy.

In its favor though, “Analyze That” does have a few good moments.

Joe Viterelli as “Jelly,” De Niro’s mutton-faced, Mafia goon

sidekick, provides understated, clever comedy and saves this film

from absolute disaster.

“Analyze That” is rated R for language and some sexual content.

If you would like to become a Reel Critic and see a movie on the

newspaper’s tab, call entertainment editor JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241.