Matrixston
Wow! Such a good movie.
Sexylocher
Masterful Movie
GurlyIamBeach
Instant Favorite.
laylastepford
Acting: 20/20 Writing: 30/40 Directing/Editing/Production/Etc: 38/40Overall: 88/100 B+Review: Danny DeVito and Bette Midler really get a chance to showcase their talents in this film. Whenever either one is on the screen, they immediately grab your attention with the way that they completely give themselves over to these roles. The delivery of their lines are perfect, and the nuances of facial expression and body language from both actors are exemplary examples of how to take comedy to a higher level.Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater, as the kidnappers. also perform true to their characters and provide solid performances. In addition, Anita Morris and Bill Pullman add great entertainment values with their own characters. Bill Pullman, particularly, does a phenomenal job with his character.As far as the comedic part of this script goes, I have to give it an A+. This film is so clever and the jokes never stop hitting the mark. From the abundance of witty lines to the comical situations and the many scenes that intertwine the two, this film is well worth the watch. Some of the jokes were so direct and biting - but hilarious - I doubt they'd be used in a similar comedy in today's time.That being said, there were some choices in the script that took away from the film.*Spoiler Alert!*The biggest plot hole was the fact that the kidnappers were able to pull off their intelligent and elaborate scheme at the end of the film, yet had been so easily deceived by DeVito's character which "triggered" the kidnapping in the first place. This took away from the ending of the film.In addition, the ending scene of Bette Midler's character joining the couple on the beach with the 3 of them "going off into the sunset", after pushing DeVito's character off of the Santa Monica pier, was a very odd choice. Barbara was established as a very nasty character and while it can be said that her husband used her and maybe she gained weight from being so unhappy, she didn't get any nicer at the end of the film; There was no change in heart for her. So it was a bit odd that she lost 20 pounds, took her husband's money and walked off into the sunset without having to pay for her "ruthless" character, as others did in the film, but getting rewarded for it instead. Not sure if it was saying women can/do/should get away with that stuff or what the message there was?Furthermore, another plot hole was the fact that Anita Morris' character had her picture with Sam published in the newspaper (after the photos were found by the police) yet she wasn't contacted by the police, nor did she make any note of her picture being in the newspaper and even went on to keep "blackmailing" the police chief. This was odd, though the situation and lines used here were hilarious.*End of Spoiler Alert!*The beginning of the film starts with an animation sequence that lasts for about 2:35. It's not exactly the most enticing introduction and in modern times, could be seen as kind of cheesy. Aside from that, the flow and pace of the film were flawless and the editing and production etc. warrant no complaints.Overall this film is a really great comedy that delivered laughs throughout the entire film. A very fun watch!
gwnightscream
Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, Anita Morris and Bill Pullman star in this 1986 comedy. This takes place in California where we meet Sam Stone (DeVito), a wealthy, obnoxious businessman who plots to murder his wife, Barbara (Midler). His plan backfires, when she's kidnapped by Ken (Reinhold) and his wife, Sandy (Slater), ex-employees of Sam who want payback. Things also go unexpectedly for them, when they learn that Sam doesn't care what happens to Barbara. Soon, Barbara bonds with her kidnappers and they work together to teach Sam a lesson. The late, Morris (18 Again) plays Sam's mistress, Carol and Pullman (Spaceballs) plays her dumb boyfriend, Earl who unsuccessfully try to blackmail Sam. This is a good 80's comedy with a great cast and DeVito & Midler were also in "Get Shorty" 9 years later. I recommend this.
SnoopyStyle
Sam Stone (Danny DeVito) married the boss's daughter Barbara (Bette Midler) expecting he would quickly die. Instead it took him 15 years to die and now Sam wants all of the family fortune. He relishes his plan to kill her with his mistress Carol. To his surprise, Barbara has been kidnapped by nice couple Ken (Judge Reinhold) and Sandy Kessler (Helen Slater). The amateur kidnappers demand $500k but Sam has no intention of paying and would love to have them kill her. The Kesslers blame Sam for stealing her spandex ideas. Carol plans to blackmail Sam with her real boyfriend idiot Earl (Bill Pullman).The team of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker try their hands in a black comedy and deliver. It doesn't have the same silliness of Airplane! and Top Secret!. It is still hilarious and much darker. I might even like it more darker. Devito and Midler are wild. The whole cast is great. It is super fun.
Lee Eisenberg
Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker started out making movies like "Airplane!". With "Ruthless People", they took the style epitomized by 1960s comedies - a scheme snowballs - and turned it into a satire on the nouveau riche. Upon learning that his wife has gotten kidnapped by a pair of designers angry about a stolen prototype, a clothing designer celebrates, hoping that he can run off with his mistress. And before too long, more and more people get pulled into the fiasco.Danny DeVito's character is the typical slimy businessman; he even buys a dog and names it Adolf! Bette Midler looks bizarre wearing a wig. I think that Helen Slater's character was my favorite, but Anita Morris's was also enigmatic. And then there's Bill Pullman (whom I never confused with Bill Paxton): he has bleached hair! It's not the funniest movie but I enjoyed it. It's got a lot of "oh no...oh yes" scenes. You'll like it and you'll like Midler's other 1986 movie poking fun at rich Angelenos: "Down and Out in Beverly Hills".PS: "Weird Al" Yankovic spoofed the theme song as "Toothless People".
