Review of Ruthless People (1986) by Rocknblues 8 — 23 Sep 2013

Ruthless People has been one of my favorite comedies since I was a young one. The humor is clever, but not hard to understand even for the younger folks. Danny DeVito is a comic genius and has don't a lot with his short and unattractive frame. He is just full of personality and that's what sells a lot of the comedy. The looks on his face when he is unable to piss off the kidnappers enough to do his wife in is a thing that should be watched by all.

Bill Pullman is the funny nitwit of the film. Everything he says and does is funny in some way or another. He's not one of my favorite actors, but he works here. Midler is good here as the bitchy wife that no man wants a part of. The rest of the cast is good also. Judge Reinhold is surprisingly funny. The whole cast clearly brought their A game for this one.

Remember that these are the same guys that brought you Airplane... This film is sort of like it in that the humor is clever and simple at the same time. Not much should fly over your head here.... But I must say that the movie would misfire completely without Danny. He is not the only bright spot, but the movie would fall apart with anyone else as the lead because the film is on the absurd side and so you need the correct guy that can work with the material.