Wise Guys (1986) MGM/Comedy RT: 91 minutes Rated R (language, violence) Director: Brian De Palma Screenplay: George Gallo Music: Ira Newborn Cinematography: Fred Schuler Release date: April 18, 1986 (US) Cast: Danny DeVito, Joe Piscopo, Harvey Keitel, Ray Sharkey, Dan Hedaya, Captain Lou Albano, Julie Bovasso, Patti LuPone, Antonia Rey, Mimi Cecchini, Matthew Kaye, Tony Munafo, Tony Rizzoli, Frank Vincent, Rick Petrucelli, Anthony Holland. Box Office: $8.4M (US)
Rating: *** ½
Sometimes a movie comes along that doesn’t impress at first, but stays with you until you finally give in and watch it again only to find you like it better the second time around. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Of course, you do. All movie fans have had this experience. It’s happened to me several times.
That’s what happened with Wise Guys, a mobster comedy directed by Brian De Palma (Scarface), a filmmaker not normally associated with funny movies. His mobster-themed films- e.g. Scarface, The Untouchables and Carlito’s Way- tend to be more serious-minded. Aside from Hi, Mom and Home Movies (two of his lesser-known titles), comedy is unfamiliar territory for the one-time heir apparent to Alfred Hitchcock.
I didn’t care much for Wise Guys when I saw it at the Lawrence Park Theater one April weeknight with my father. It didn’t click for me until several years later when I decided to give it another chance. That time, I liked it. I really liked it. I’ve seen it a few times over the years and have come to see it as an overlooked, underappreciated black comedy gem.
Danny DeVito (Ruthless People) and Joe Piscopo (Johnny Dangerously) star as Harry and Moe, two low-level Mafia members who get no respect from anybody. The boss Castelo (Hedaya, Blood Simple) always gives them crap jobs like doing his grocery shopping and starting his car to make sure it isn’t wired to explode. One day, they’re ordered by ill-tempered enforcer Frank the Fixer (wrestler Albano) to go to the track and place a bet for the boss who has a knack for always betting on the wrong horse. Looking to gain the boss’ favor, Harry puts the money on the favorite to win only to discover too late that the race was fixed.
Understandably pissed off about the guys costing him $250,000, Castelo exacts his revenge by putting hits on both Harry and Moe. The catch (unbeknownst to both targets), he orders them to kill each other. Naturally, these best laid plans go awry and the guys high-tail it to Atlantic City in Frank’s prized 1959 Cadillac convertible in hopes that Harry’s well-connected uncle will be able to get them out of their current mess.
During my most recent viewing of Wise Guys, I noticed how well DeVito and Piscopo complement each other. Longtime friends who live next door to each other in scenic Newark, NJ (ha ha!), Harry is an attention-seeker with a bounty of ill-advised ideas and Moe is a slightly dim goodfella who knows his pal’s ideas are bad ones, but goes along with him anyway. They have an easy camaraderie between them; it’s easy to believe they’ve known each other all their lives. Individually (and as actors), each one is in top form. DeVito, in his first lead role, commands the spotlight with ease while Piscopo walks confidently by his side. Harvey Keitel (Taxi Driver) has a great supporting role as an old neighborhood friend who now owns a casino hotel in Atlantic City. Hedaya has some good moments as the slimy, sadistic mob boss. HOWEVER, the biggest surprise (literally!) in Wise Guys is the hilarious comedic performance given by Captain Lou Albano, the gigantic wrestler infamous for his bad guy antics inside the ring. His line deliveries are one of the film’s many joys.
De Palma, working from a screenplay by George Gallo (Midnight Run, 29th Street), directs the proceedings with a sure hand despite being outside his comfort zone. Wise Guys is a riot! This is mostly because he understands the inner workings of organized crime enough to allow him to put just the right comedic twist on things. He shows the humor in two underlings who will do anything to impress their colleagues who will still stand there and laugh at them. For guys like Harry and Moe, there is no going up the ladder. Everybody but them seems to realize this. They’re not too bright, but they’re still smart enough to know they’re in deep you-know-what when they screw up for the umpteenth time. Their attempts to straighten out their mess make for great comedy in the hands of De Palma.
Sure, Wise Guys isn’t for everybody. Black comedy is definitely an acquired taste. Those who decide to take a chance on it are in for a treat. Wise Guys is filled to the top with great ideas and great memorable characters. It never runs out of either. It’s free of the stench of desperation that permeates other comedies. It legitimately makes you laugh instead of begging you to laugh out of pity. It’s a handsome production too. I didn’t even think it was possible to make New Jersey look this good. It’s a crime it didn’t do better during its one-week (?) theatrical run. Wise Guys is a true hidden treasure.
QUESTION FOR READERS: Maybe one of you can shed some light on why the DVD version of Wise Guys is shorter than the theatrical version which runs 100 minutes according to IMDb and Wikipedia. What did they cut out? Did they cut anything out? Is the 100-minute running time a mistake? Please enlighten me.
