It was a lot funnier the first time I saw it, when it first came out…because back then, DeNiro doing his best DeNiro impression (from serious, violent films) was a relatively new and fresh idea. I thought it was hilarious.
But you can only do the same joke so many times before it gets old. And let’s face it, DeNiro’s done it plenty of times since then. But even with that being said, I still really like this movie because DeNiro’s deadpan delivery of lines he knows are meant to be funny and self-effacing rivals that of Leslie Nielsen in ‘Airplane!’ and Idle/Cleese in the best ‘Flying Circus’ sketches.
And the comedy that’s intrinsic with self-parody is a great contrast to the extremely serious things that are happening…you know, people getting killed and all.
Dr. Sobel’s psychiatry is a bit out-of-date at this point, but Crystal does a good job holding his own.
Inspirational Exchange: The Fcken Doctor V. Primo Sindone
Grade: A-
Same-Day Edit: Nah…too hokey. In too many places. Grade: B