Monday, December 8, 2008

Johnny Dangerously

Fargin' iceholes! Time for the latest review:

Johnny Dangerously. 1984 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, Peter Boyle, Danny DeVito
Director: Amy Heckerling
Buy Johnny Dangerously at Amazon.

This is a parody of gangster movies from the 1930s in the vein of Airplane! or many of Mel Brooks' films. Michael Keaton is Johnny Kelly, a kind and well-meaning paperboy who only enters the world of organized crime to keep paying for his mother's (Maureen Stapleton) numerous surgeries and health ailments. Johnny eventually takes control of the gang he joined as a youngster, while his younger brother Tommy graduates from law school, helped along by big brother. Tommy says he's going to work for the District Attorney's office, which prompts Johnny to "go legit", but another health scare from his mother sends him back into crime. Johnny is framed for murder, and goes to death row, but escapes just in time to save Tommy from being murdered by an old childhood rival.

This is a very funny, and underrated film. If you've never heard of it before, seek it out.

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