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''So, if I look like his mother and you look like his father, this is what our son would look like. Pretty strong argument for birth control.''
A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retaliation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.
Danny DeVito: Sam Stone
Back in the 80s there were many examples of comedies and spoofs. Ranging from Overboard, Splash!, Beverly Hills Cop to Animal House, and Police Academy. This effort, this Ruthless People is another 80s comedy which strives upon it's faceted strengths and indeed weaknesses. One of them being a dual effect strength and weakness, the silliness,the unrelenting tone of the film. This tone shows us that this story and film is abit of fun, abit of a laugh not to be taken too seriously. The story consists of a couple whom wouldn't hurt a fly, being swindled by a malicious advocate, thus in retaliation they do something surprising. They kidnap his wife and demand ransom. The twist being this business man hates his wife and was planning to kill her himself. Ironically twist drops upon twist and predicaments arise in which the wife teams up with the couple.
Back in the 80s many of the cast were considered high profile actors. Bette Midler, Danny DeVito, Judge Reinhold...all big names in the decade, back in the day. They all act out the characters to the best of their ability and to the limit of the quirky script. Whats nice is that we have Danny DeVito playing an absurdly bad ass nemesis while Bette Midler his wife to start with is a similar kind of character. Her transition and weight loss that transpires within Ruthless People is another delightful bonus the story has to offer. Thankfully we are treated to funny sketches in every scene we see with her in and the other cast. Interestingly enough,a young dyed haired Bill Pullman playing Earl Mott, makes an appearance, upon researching we find this is first film.
''I mean, what the hell's the point of being a decent person when no-one is?''
Ruthless People bombards us with some hilarious dialogue and upsurd happenings. For instance, a ridiculous amount of police cars lined up following Judge, raises an eyebrow or two. A bedroom Killer plot thread thrown in, where he does a performance and dialogue that resembles something Heath Ledger watched for his Joker inspiration. The comparison arose for me,after watching yet again Dark Knight, see if you agree with these bizarre mother father referendums the character makes.
Another interesting fact about this film is that Bette Midler claims that Danny DeVito phoned her twice after the premiere: once to congratulate her, and a second time only twenty minutes after the first call, during which he and Midler both broke down in a nervous frenzy over how terrible the movie was, and how both of their careers were over. The film, ironically, went on to become a box-office success.
Which shows people did have a sense of humour and appreciation for comedies back in the hey day of funk and film. This is an evolution of the 70s, a dirty, big haired piece, that's got a black comedy vein to it. Indeed it seems this outing would of even set up inspirations for future films like Death Becomes Her or even Gump or Groundhog Day. Perhaps not completely inspirationally but on a impartial, diluted way and sense.
So overall Ruthless People is an enjoyment. My three star rating isn't a negative, but a positive balanced venture and appreciation for a film that isn't perfect yet knows it. This is a ballsy comedy with a lightly spread darkish tone. It has the funky 80s music, the dated clothes and hair, the spirit of a by gone era that seems like yesterday. Obviously this film still has a cult following and it's obvious to see why, this is a sort of Aeroplane! spoof of mild black comedy.
Granted none of the situations become graphic or are allowed to become overly serious or violent. But this is the nature of the film, and whether it be Short Circuit or any other 80s comedy fair, Ruthless People will always provide belly laughs and crack a smile on even the most serious of audiences.
''Well, let's face it, she's not Mother Teresa. Gandhi would have strangled her.''
6/10
