Johnny Dangerously (1984)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writers:

Harry Colomby (writer)
Jeff Harris (writer)

Release Date:

21 December 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

WANTED * MICHAEL KEATON * for being wacky, outrageous & rude in the 'new' hit comedy

Plot:

Set in the 1930's, an honest, goodhearted man is forced to turn to a life of crime to finance his neurotic mother's skyrocketing medical bills.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Medical Bill | Organized Crime | Flashback | Mobster

Cast

Michael Keaton	...	Johnny Kelly (AKA Johnny Dangerously)
Joe Piscopo	...	Danny Vermin
Marilu Henner	...	Lil
Maureen Stapleton	...	Ma Kelly
Peter Boyle	...	Jocko Dundee
Griffin Dunne	...	Tommy Kelly
Glynnis O'Connor	...	Sally
Dom DeLuise	...	The Pope
Richard Dimitri	...	Roman Troy Moronie
Danny DeVito	...	Burr
Ron Carey	...	Pat
Ray Walston	...	Vendor
Dick Butkus	...	Arthur
Byron Thames	...	Young Johnny
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Desk Sergeant

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:12 | Canada:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG-13

Company:

Edgewood Productions

Trivia:

One of the first movies with a PG-13 rating.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the end of the movie, Tommy Kelly sees The Roaring Twenties (1939). The latest date in this movie (the year it was being narrated in) is 1935.

Quotes:

Tommy Kelly: Sally's place is in the home and I intend to support her and I'll do anything - shine boots, drive a hack, blow glass. Anything.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs White Heat (1949)

Funny "hit and miss" comedy

One of the first of the gangster spoof movies this is the story of Michael Keaton's Johnny Kelly sucked into Peter Boyle's New York gang before eventually leading it. This is confused by the fact that Johnny's brother (Griffin Dunne) is the DA seeking to put New York's crime lords away.

The film is silly from start to finish - the plot doesn't make sense and the characters are overblown, but that's the whole point - it's meant to be a spoof and it is. The jokes are quite hit-and-miss, but the majority hit and are funny, although you do need to be in the mood for it.

Michael Keaton is perfect in the lead role, clearly enjoying himself immensely and is on-form for the whole movie. The whole cast provide good support in a series of fun roles - Griffin Dunne is great as the DA, Danny DeVito top in a small role as the crooked DA (or host of game show "play ball"!). Richard Dimitri is hilarious as the gangster of unknown origin, guilty of murdering the english language (fargin' funny!), Peter Boyle is good as Johnny's boss, but Joe Piscopo is the best support as the gangster with attitude ("once").

The film is a fun throwback spoof. Every element of the film is exaggerated and the majority of it comes off well. Yes some jokes miss but they come so thick and fast that the next one is never far away.