Analyze That
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Synopsis
Following a series of prison assassination attempts and a feigned mental breakdown, mob kingpin Paul Vitti is paroled into the personal custody of his neurotic psychiatrist, upending the doctor's household while plotting an undercover armored-car heist.
Plot
Serving his sentence at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, incarcerated mob boss Paul Vitti escapes two attempts on his life orchestrated by rival mafia figures. Fearing for his safety, Vitti fakes acute catatonia and starts spontaneously belting out showtunes from West Side Story. The Federal Bureau of Investigation summons his former psychotherapist, Dr. Ben Sobel, who is currently grieving the recent loss of his overbearing father. Recognizing that Vitti may be acting, Ben is nonetheless pressured by federal prosecutors into accepting legal guardianship of the mobster, taking him into his private suburban home for thirty days of mandatory rehabilitation.
Vitti quickly turns Ben’s domestic life upside down, driving Ben’s wife Laura to near madness while bringing his loyal right-hand enforcer Jelly along for the ride. For more comedy breakdowns, streaming platform options, and cinema retrospectives, check out MovieToWatch. Ben attempts to integrate Vitti into conventional civilian life, securing him short-lived jobs at a car dealership, a restaurant, and a jewelry showroom, all of which end in comic disasters. Vitti eventually lands a consulting role on a mafia television drama, using the production equipment, studio trucks, and props as a cover to thwart rival boss Lou Rigazzi and plan a daring gold bar robbery from an armored transport.
Ending Explained
Under pressure from FBI agents threatening to send him back to Sing Sing and competing demands from rival bosses Patty LoPresti and Lou Rigazzi, Vitti recruits Ben to help pull off a staged heist of three bank vaults filled with gold bullion. Ben accidentally finds himself leading a team of thieves through a tunnel wearing ski masks. Rather than pocketing the gold for the mob families, Vitti stages the robbery to frame both the LoPresti and Rigazzi factions, drawing federal authorities straight to their doorstep to dismantle both crime organizations in a single raid.
With both mafia crews surrounded and taken into custody, Vitti slips away with a haul of gold bars hidden inside a decoy television production truck. Recognizing that Ben genuinely helped him move past his emotional trauma, Vitti secretly leaves a valuable stash of gold behind for Ben as a farewell gift, while giving the rest to help establish legitimate investments. The FBI drops all charges against Ben, satisfied that the major New York syndicates are behind bars. Later, Ben bids a warm farewell to Vitti, who heads into hiding to start a clean civilian chapter, while Ben returns to his family and his therapy practice with renewed inner peace and confidence.
What We Think About This Movie
What We Liked
Natural, effortless comic rapport between Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.
A bizarre, deadpan musical gag with De Niro performing tunes from West Side Story.
Lisa Kudrow extracting reliable laughs as the long-suffering, neurotic wife Laura.
Joe Viterelli in his final screen role delivering warm, lovable goon energy as Jelly.
What We Didn't Like
Recycled jokes and gags that rely heavily on diminishing returns from the original film.
Broad, silly setups such as Paul testing out everyday jobs that feel like an episodic sitcom sketch.
A convoluted, low-stakes armored car gold heist subplot that lacks genuine criminal intrigue.
Who Should Watch
Fans of Analyze This wanting to spend one more hour with Paul Vitti and Dr. Ben Sobel.
Viewers who enjoy easygoing, lighthearted 2000s studio mob comedies.
Devotees of Robert De Niro’s comedic phase from the late 90s and early 2000s.
Who Should Skip
Anyone expecting the fresh satirical bite or sharp psychological insight of the first movie.
Viewers looking for a grounded, believable crime comedy rather than farcical silliness.
Movie Details
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Frequently Asked Questions About Analyze That
Is Analyze That a direct sequel?
Yes, it is the direct sequel to the 1999 hit comedy Analyze This, reuniting director Harold Ramis with lead actors Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, and Joe Viterelli.
Was this Joe Viterelli's final movie?
Yes, this film marked character actor Joe Viterelli's final feature film performance as Jelly before his death in January 2004.
Why did Robert De Niro sing West Side Story songs in the film?
Screenwriters and director Harold Ramis devised the musical outburst as a humorous, extreme way for Paul Vitti to convince prison psychiatrists that he had completely lost his mind and qualified for a psychiatric transfer.
Who directed Analyze That?
Comedy legend Harold Ramis directed the movie, having also directed classics like Groundhog Day, Caddyshack, and the original Analyze This.
