Weeklies
Movie: "My Blue Heaven"
Year: 1990
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Herbert Ross
Writing credits: Nora Ephron
Reviewer: -RoG-
Posted: 8/11/2008
Plot: An uptight FBI agent (Barney Coopersmith) has to protect a former mafioso (Vincent Antonelli) who is now in the federal witness protection program. Only problem is, Vincent isn't exactly the kind of guy who lives a low key lifestyle.
Review: Before Steve Martin acted in films such as Sgt. Bilko and Bringing Down The House, he was in a wide variety of excellent comedies. Out of all the films he's done, I think My Blue Heaven is one of his most under-appreciated ones. At the very least, Vincent Antonelli is easily one of his best character portrayals. The hair, the Italian accent, the clothes, the mannerisms... he's got the stereotypical mafia guy down perfectly in this flick.
Opposite of Martin, Rick Moranis plays an uptight FBI agent who has to protect him so he can testify against the mob boss. Watching Barney Coopersmith (Moranis) grow increasingly frustrated with Vinnie Antonelli's antics is a real treat. You see, just because Vincent is now in the federal witness protection program, that doesn't mean he's given up a life of crime. Quite the contrary.
Having been relocated to the suburbs of San Diego, Vinnie (having been raised on the streets of the city that never sleeps) is now in his own personal hell and bored out of his mind. That is, until he discovers that a lot of other ex-mafia guys have been relocated to this same town under the witness protection program. Together, they start up a local crime syndicate and it drives both Barney and the local D.A. Hannah Stubbs (Joan Cusack) crazy.
However, for all of his blatantly obvious criminal acts (which, of course, Vinnie vehemently denies any involvement with), Vinnie still manages to teach Barney and Hannah to lighten up a bit and start enjoying life.
I should also note that there are plenty of other great characters in the film including Carol Kane as one of Vinnie's many flaky love interests, Shaldeen, William "You dirty raaaaat" Hickey as Billy Sparrow, and the highly talented Bill Irwin as Kirby.
It's not the most gut-bustingly hilarious film you'll ever see, but it's a really fun movie and a great character study that showcases just how good Steve Martin can be when given a good role. If nothing else, you'll learn an important thing about arugula... "it's a ve-ge-ta-ble."
Overall rating: 
(Scored on a 0.5 - 5 pickles rating: 0.5 being the worst and 5 being the best)
Reader Comments
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Originally Posted by GreenPeaness
Are you kidding me? Stereotyping is one thing, but Martin walks around like he's in some kind of kid's play. His delivery is wooden. His accent is comical only in that he sounds like someone trying to do a bad impersonation of Robert DeNiro. And, Strange Brew notwithstanding, a comedy vehicle with Rick Moranis carrying 50% of the billing? No sir. Big Bully. That is what I have to say to that.
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Big Bully...now THAT was an underappreciated Rick Moranis (and Tom Arnold) film!
"Fongul!"
(probably spelled it wrong...)
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Originally Posted by GreenPeaness
The hair, the Italian accent, the clothes, the mannerisms... he's got the stereotypical mafia guy down perfectly in this flick.
Are you kidding me? Stereotyping is one thing, but Martin walks around like he's in some kind of kid's play. His delivery is wooden. His accent is comical only in that he sounds like someone trying to do a bad impersonation of Robert DeNiro. And, Strange Brew notwithstanding, a comedy vehicle with Rick Moranis carrying 50% of the billing? No sir. Big Bully. That is what I have to say to that. |
aaah man... don't hate on good ol' Steve Martin.. So his accent isn't "dead on" I have met full blooded Italians who can't muster a decent wise guy imitation, hell at least Martin had body language, facial gestures and comedic timing. Give the guy a break, I mean hell he is one of my all time favorite actors and I even think his recent like 6 years + of films have mostly been shite.
Great.
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Are you kidding me? Stereotyping is one thing, but Martin walks around like he's in some kind of kid's play. His delivery is wooden. His accent is comical only in that he sounds like someone trying to do a bad impersonation of Robert DeNiro. And, Strange Brew notwithstanding, a comedy vehicle with Rick Moranis carrying 50% of the billing? No sir. Big Bully. That is what I have to say to that.