After an eight-year slouch, Billy Crystal made a comeback as psychiatrist Ben Sobel, treating tense Mafia boss Paul Vitti (Robert DeNiro). "Analyze This" is basically situation comedy, but very well done. We no doubt expect certain things from such a movie, and it delivers. An interrupted wedding? Check. An FBI investigation? Check. A final showdown? You better believe it.

All in all, I think that this movie - along with "Meet the Parents" and "Meet the Fockers" - suggests that Robert DeNiro nowadays does best in zany comedy (although "Hide and Seek" was also worth seeing). But anyway, this is the sort of thing that could only come from Harold Ramis. A great movie. Also starring Lisa Kudrow and Chazz Palminteri.

It's probably not necessary to have seen many Mafia gangster films to enjoy this movie, but it wouldn't hurt. You'll be better able to appreciate the Godfather dream sequence parody, and wouldn't need Dr. Ben Sobol's (Billy Crystal) diagnosis to figure out that Vitti is suffering from stress anxiety and panic attacks. The picture seems a natural for the talents involved, and DeNiro uses his facial mugging to sufficient advantage as he parries with Crystal's treatment methods. I generally don't enjoy movies that liberally sprinkle the dialog with the 'F' word, but when you put it all in the bada bing context of a comedy like this it takes off some of the edge. Joe Viterelli as Vitti's primary henchman Jelly was a great choice for additional comic relief, and even though I can't separate Lisa Kudrow from her ditsy 'Friends' character, she she did a fine enough job here dealing with her fiancé's situation with his new found patient. That was a nice touch at the finale with Tony Bennett's cameo too, you should stick around for it. Bottom line, "Analyze This" is a funny movie (keep the kids away for the language),and You, You, .... You will probably get a kick out of it too.

In 1957, there was a big mob boss meeting to split up the country. It was broken up by the Feds. There was never another meeting until now. There is a big bosses' meeting for the survival of the mob coming up. Boss Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro) is in a mob war but his anxiety attacks prevent him from inflicting violence. Psychiatrist Ben Sobol (Billy Crystal) is tired of his patients' petty problems. His son is spying on his patients. His parents can't even come to his wedding to Miami TV reporter Laura (Lisa Kudrow). Ben rear ends into Vitti's man Jelly (Joe Viterelli) with a tied up victim in the truck. Ben gives him a business card and later Don Paul Vitti comes in to see Ben for his problems before the big meeting in 2 weeks.

De Niro is cashing in on his mobster persona to give it a different spin. That locks up that part of the movie. However the comedic aspect is surprisingly sparse considering the Harold Ramis name. Jelly provides a few good laughs. The DeNiro Crystal pairing doesn't come up with enough laughs unless DeNiro fake crying is funny to you. It's funny when DeNiro tries to tell the other boss his feeling. Considering this was made before The Sopranos, a psychiatrist and a mob boss is a pretty good idea. Harold Ramis doesn't milk enough big laughs. He just left too much on the table.