I like Outrageous Fortune a little better, but they make a brilliant double showing. My favorite bit from Ruthless People is when they fake the sound of Judge and Helen torturing Bette over the phone with the sizzling hamburger. And the comedy line I love best from the film is where Helen establishes that Danny Devito keeps making them lower ransom price and Bette cries, "I've been kidnapped by K-Mart." This was a flick my family saw in theatres and loved and watched on VHS and cable many times. So glad to see it getting some attention here all these decades later.
This movie had me at the opening credit animation sequence with music by Mick Jagger; GREAT ensemble balance ! And then, there's Bette's reading on the line: "My body's become a more efficient machine...it requires less food..." I thought of this whenever I worked out...
This movie holds a special place for me, even though I don’t actually care about or actually like it all that much, because of the association my spouse has with it. When they were 10, they were in horrible car accident and nearly died, hospitalized for months. Relatively early in their recovery stay, the hospital staff and their family were doing everything they could to make them comfortable because it was questionable if they would make it or ever fully recover. They are a huge Bette Middler fan and had seen every age-appropriate movie she had made to that point. One of the only things they had not seen, being Rated R, was Ruthless People. So they asked to watch it and everyone was like “why not? This kid will in all likelihood never be old enough to watch an R movie, so what could it hurt?”. So they wheeled a vcr and tv cart into their room and rented the tape to watch there, making it their first R rated movie and it was while recovering in the ICU.
I'm 53 and have never watched this movie because - though I like Danny Devito - I can't handle too dark a comedy. So kinda cool to hear about it though I'll never watch it. I'll stick with _Romancing the Stone_ and _Twins._ 😂
Ruthless People hooked me with the wild sales pitch on the speakers they can bury you in, and then he has too much of a conscience to go through with the sale. It really sold me on Judge Reinhold utterly lacking what it takes to pull off the crime of jaywalking, much less extortion or murder. Paired with Helen Slater, they hilariously don't have what it takes.
I saw this when it came out and remember liking it. Most memorable joke 40 years later? Anita Morris and the dust buster. My favorite Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker film was Top Secret!
I've never seen this, but i knew of it. My parents used to bootleg vhs, and this was on the same tape as our copy of Short Circuit. I watched Short Circuit over and over but never Ruthless People. 😅
This movie makes me really appreciate Drowning Mona and it's wild over the top absurdity. Check it out if you haven't seen it. Danny DeVito is the straight man in a town full of crazy people and Bette Midler is the supreme jerk that everyone wanted to kill. it's hilarious.
This was one of the first r-rated movies that I ever saw in my life. I admit, I almost bailed on the picture because of the animated opening credits, being a bit graphic for me at the time (I was like 14), but my folks persuaded me to sit tight.
I adored this movie when I was a teenager and rewatched it recently. It's still a ton of fun and the cast is the main reason. I disagree with your take about the directors, as I think Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker did an excellent job and this was the perfect evolution in their career. Devito is brilliant, but I like this more than Throw Momma From The Train or War Of The Roses, and honestly wouldn't have picked him to direct this one based on those 2 films alone. Bette really shined here, even more so than in other 80s comedies like Outrageous Fortune, Down & Out In Beverly Hills, or Big Business. It is also a perfect time capsule of 80s design, fashion, and excess. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this classic & Happy Pride!
I like this film. It's not great but amusing. I love the scene where Pullman's character is trying to take the money not realising he's surrounded by armed cops. The 'This could very well be the stupidest person on the planet' is great and I've used that clip so many times on Twitter and Facebook.
I think this may have been the first DeVito film I saw. Must have not been too long after it came out. Not seen it for years but still have a soft spot for it.
The first time I saw this movie I was probably way too young. I knew Helen Slater from Supergirl and Bill Pullman from Spaceballs. So this was quite a departure for my young eyes. I didn’t get a lot of the jokes either. But I do remember enjoying it anyway, even more so as I got older watching it again. I do agree that a lot more could have been done with it though.
I think the first few minutes are pretty tight. Shows you immediately what Danny de Vito's character is like and what he wants. But I do wonder... did the storyline with the sex tape have any impact on the main story? It felt like it could've been cut out and we would miss nothing.
Maybe it's the 'tism, but my family and I have been quoting this movie for years, along with Outrageous Fortune. Most often, "ComPLETE morons are rare..." from the Mistress, glancing sidelong at her brainless boytoy (Pullman). Surprised you didn't mention the whole blackmail subplot, or the chief of police. There are a lot of good moments in this. I get what you mean that the directing could've been more interesting, but for what was there, the cast delivered! Judge reassuring Helen and encouraging her that they have to be cutthroat, while carrying a spider outside on a paper. Judge finally making a sleazy sales pitch until he sees the mark's girlfriend is pregnant, and he just can't do that. The mistress and her moron watching their "murder" blackmail tape in the middle of a TV display, and a petulant little "That's my husband!" in the background. Bette's "Am I understanding this correctly: I'm being MARKED DOWN?" The irony of the cops finally suspecting DeVito of murder, so he has to stop fucking up the ransom demands and actually get her back. Bette and her kidnappers faking the "torture" to milk DeVito for everything he's got ("FOUR FLAWLESS ONE-KARAT DIAMONDS!" "Ugh, the bitch blabbed!"). Bill Pullman crashing the ransom exchange and not believing it's the police on the bullhorn. "Really?" "... No! We're the National Rifle Association!" [aims all their rifles] (also: "This may be the stupidest person on the face of the earth. Perhaps we should shoot him.") The cops at the end hoping their marriages are as sweet and long-lasting as DeVito's, while his wife is beating the shit out of him behind them. Some of the jokes are dated and edgy, but it always makes me laugh. Wonder if it's online anywhere. Hope you can check out Outrageous Fortune again, it's great!
You didn't like Naked Gun, shame on you for developing a more refined adult taste. I've rewatched Kung Fu and the Six million dollar man and all those old hot tv scfi and adventure shows of the 70's and 80's. I couldn't believe how disappointed I was with their dated production values and even shallower storylines. I hate to say that I'm jaded now and even the original Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars and Avatar movies seem blah (of course I've seen it a thousand times...) as the special effects have evolved so much since. Yet, a good story will always bring me back watch them again, but now I know how bad some of them really were - LOL. An example of a really old movie that was well crafted and stand the test of time, for me, was the original Andromeda Strain really good sc-fi and mature thought out plot and even special effects - 1971. For comedy it was Abbott and Costello meet frankenstein - 1948. Just to name two. Great review.
I was getting ruthless people mixed up with war of the roses, one is a great movie the other one is something i just put on my to watch list. Thanks. I love movies about horrible people
I like Outrageous Fortune a little better, but they make a brilliant double showing.
My favorite bit from Ruthless People is when they fake the sound of Judge and Helen torturing Bette over the phone with the sizzling hamburger.
And the comedy line I love best from the film is where Helen establishes that Danny Devito keeps making them lower ransom price and Bette cries, "I've been kidnapped by K-Mart."
This was a flick my family saw in theatres and loved and watched on VHS and cable many times. So glad to see it getting some attention here all these decades later.
This movie had me at the opening credit animation sequence with music by Mick Jagger; GREAT ensemble balance ! And then, there's Bette's reading on the line: "My body's become a more efficient machine...it requires less food..." I thought of this whenever I worked out...
This movie holds a special place for me, even though I don’t actually care about or actually like it all that much, because of the association my spouse has with it. When they were 10, they were in horrible car accident and nearly died, hospitalized for months. Relatively early in their recovery stay, the hospital staff and their family were doing everything they could to make them comfortable because it was questionable if they would make it or ever fully recover. They are a huge Bette Middler fan and had seen every age-appropriate movie she had made to that point. One of the only things they had not seen, being Rated R, was Ruthless People. So they asked to watch it and everyone was like “why not? This kid will in all likelihood never be old enough to watch an R movie, so what could it hurt?”. So they wheeled a vcr and tv cart into their room and rented the tape to watch there, making it their first R rated movie and it was while recovering in the ICU.
I'm 53 and have never watched this movie because - though I like Danny Devito - I can't handle too dark a comedy. So kinda cool to hear about it though I'll never watch it. I'll stick with _Romancing the Stone_ and _Twins._ 😂
Ruthless People hooked me with the wild sales pitch on the speakers they can bury you in, and then he has too much of a conscience to go through with the sale. It really sold me on Judge Reinhold utterly lacking what it takes to pull off the crime of jaywalking, much less extortion or murder. Paired with Helen Slater, they hilariously don't have what it takes.
I saw this when it came out and remember liking it. Most memorable joke 40 years later? Anita Morris and the dust buster. My favorite Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker film was Top Secret!
“Crockett and Tubbs! They’re floatin’!” Fan of this one from way back.
My all time favorite comedy. It just makes me laugh more and louder than any other I've ever seen (though Noises Off comes close).
I've never seen this, but i knew of it. My parents used to bootleg vhs, and this was on the same tape as our copy of Short Circuit. I watched Short Circuit over and over but never Ruthless People. 😅
This is my comfort movie, absolutely love it.
This movie makes me really appreciate Drowning Mona and it's wild over the top absurdity. Check it out if you haven't seen it. Danny DeVito is the straight man in a town full of crazy people and Bette Midler is the supreme jerk that everyone wanted to kill. it's hilarious.
This was one of the first r-rated movies that I ever saw in my life. I admit, I almost bailed on the picture because of the animated opening credits, being a bit graphic for me at the time (I was like 14), but my folks persuaded me to sit tight.
I only knew about this movie because growing up I had that big Variety book of old comedy movie reviews, because I was exactly that kind of nerd lol
Yes! I love this movie! So underrated
I adored this movie when I was a teenager and rewatched it recently. It's still a ton of fun and the cast is the main reason. I disagree with your take about the directors, as I think Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker did an excellent job and this was the perfect evolution in their career. Devito is brilliant, but I like this more than Throw Momma From The Train or War Of The Roses, and honestly wouldn't have picked him to direct this one based on those 2 films alone. Bette really shined here, even more so than in other 80s comedies like Outrageous Fortune, Down & Out In Beverly Hills, or Big Business. It is also a perfect time capsule of 80s design, fashion, and excess. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this classic & Happy Pride!
I like this film. It's not great but amusing. I love the scene where Pullman's character is trying to take the money not realising he's surrounded by armed cops. The 'This could very well be the stupidest person on the planet' is great and I've used that clip so many times on Twitter and Facebook.
I think this may have been the first DeVito film I saw. Must have not been too long after it came out. Not seen it for years but still have a soft spot for it.
"No, it's sweet"
"The dog's a little diabetic"
OMG! That is never not funny!
It's been so long since I've seen this movie, but I enjoyed it. "Ransom of the Red Chief" gone berserk.
The first time I saw this movie I was probably way too young. I knew Helen Slater from Supergirl and Bill Pullman from Spaceballs. So this was quite a departure for my young eyes. I didn’t get a lot of the jokes either. But I do remember enjoying it anyway, even more so as I got older watching it again. I do agree that a lot more could have been done with it though.
Engagement for the engagement god!
I think the first few minutes are pretty tight. Shows you immediately what Danny de Vito's character is like and what he wants. But I do wonder... did the storyline with the sex tape have any impact on the main story? It felt like it could've been cut out and we would miss nothing.
Maybe it's the 'tism, but my family and I have been quoting this movie for years, along with Outrageous Fortune. Most often, "ComPLETE morons are rare..." from the Mistress, glancing sidelong at her brainless boytoy (Pullman). Surprised you didn't mention the whole blackmail subplot, or the chief of police.
There are a lot of good moments in this. I get what you mean that the directing could've been more interesting, but for what was there, the cast delivered!
Judge reassuring Helen and encouraging her that they have to be cutthroat, while carrying a spider outside on a paper.
Judge finally making a sleazy sales pitch until he sees the mark's girlfriend is pregnant, and he just can't do that.
The mistress and her moron watching their "murder" blackmail tape in the middle of a TV display, and a petulant little "That's my husband!" in the background.
Bette's "Am I understanding this correctly: I'm being MARKED DOWN?"
The irony of the cops finally suspecting DeVito of murder, so he has to stop fucking up the ransom demands and actually get her back.
Bette and her kidnappers faking the "torture" to milk DeVito for everything he's got ("FOUR FLAWLESS ONE-KARAT DIAMONDS!" "Ugh, the bitch blabbed!").
Bill Pullman crashing the ransom exchange and not believing it's the police on the bullhorn. "Really?" "... No! We're the National Rifle Association!" [aims all their rifles] (also: "This may be the stupidest person on the face of the earth. Perhaps we should shoot him.")
The cops at the end hoping their marriages are as sweet and long-lasting as DeVito's, while his wife is beating the shit out of him behind them.
Some of the jokes are dated and edgy, but it always makes me laugh. Wonder if it's online anywhere.
Hope you can check out Outrageous Fortune again, it's great!
BTW, have you seen Rennaissance Man? It's another DeVito film, but doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Nope I never did get around to that one.
@@BreakRoomofGeeks well it is a pretty neat dramedy
You didn't like Naked Gun, shame on you for developing a more refined adult taste. I've rewatched Kung Fu and the Six million dollar man and all those old hot tv scfi and adventure shows of the 70's and 80's. I couldn't believe how disappointed I was with their dated production values and even shallower storylines. I hate to say that I'm jaded now and even the original Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars and Avatar movies seem blah (of course I've seen it a thousand times...) as the special effects have evolved so much since. Yet, a good story will always bring me back watch them again, but now I know how bad some of them really were - LOL. An example of a really old movie that was well crafted and stand the test of time, for me, was the original Andromeda Strain really good sc-fi and mature thought out plot and even special effects - 1971. For comedy it was Abbott and Costello meet frankenstein - 1948. Just to name two. Great review.
I was getting ruthless people mixed up with war of the roses, one is a great movie the other one is something i just put on my to watch list. Thanks. I love movies about horrible people