Ruthless People (1986)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Jim Abrahams
David Zucker

Writers:

Dale Launer (written by) and
O. Henry (story)

Release Date:

27 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Barbara Stone has just been kidnapped by K-Mart, and what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

Plot:

A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retalitation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Hooker | Murder | Kidnap | Revenge

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Danny DeVito	...	Sam Stone
Bette Midler	...	Barbara Stone
Judge Reinhold	...	Ken Kessler
Helen Slater	...	Sandy Kessler
Anita Morris	...	Carol Dodsworth
Bill Pullman	...	Earl Mott
William G. Schilling	...	Chief Henry Benton
Art Evans	...	Lt. Bender
Clarence Felder	...	Lt. Walters
J.E. Freeman	...	Bedroom Killer
Gary Riley	...	Heavy Metal Kid
Phyllis Applegate	...	Loan Officer
Jeannine Bisignano	...	Hooker in Car
J.P. Bumstead	...	Technician
Jon Cutler	...	Stereo Store Customer

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13 (re-rated) | USA:TV-14 (uncut) | UK:18 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (2002) | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners II

Trivia:

Bette Midler claims that Danny DeVito called her twice after the premiere of this film: 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, however, went on to become a box-office smash.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ken, Sandy and Barbara are sitting at the dining room table discussing possible punishments for Sam Stone's infidelity, Barbara sets a glass of milk in front of Ken. In the next shot, it turns into a mug.

Quotes:

[Barbara has been kidnaped]
Barbara: My husband worships the ground I walk on! When he hears about this, he will *explode*!
[Meanwhile, Sam Stone pops a champagne cork with glee]
Sam Stone: Bye-bye, Barbara!

Movie Connections:

References Song of the South (1946)

Soundtrack:

NO SAY IN IT

The definitive crazy '80's comedy.

This is one film that can always raise a smile with me. Even now, after all these years, it's still an outrageous, engaging, thoroughly nasty comedy that leaves me in fits of giggles. It has dated quite badly (just check out Sam's house, my god!), but the plot is still as fresh as ever. I love the way it twists so many times, you never know what's going to happen next or who's going to do what. Movies like this can be addictive, and Ruthless People is no exception. Danny DeVito and Bette Midler are fabulous as Sam and Barbara Stone, DeVito doing his evil little man routine with ease and Midler at her usual best. Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater's characters are probably the most unexciting of the bunch, but they bring an endearing quality to Ken and Sandy that make them watchable. Anita Morris and Bill Pullman round out the cast as man-eater Carol and dense Earl (`This could very well be the stupidest man on the face of the Earth', classic!). Ruthless People is unique in that all the characters are quite vulgar and awful, and shouldn't really be all that likeable. But, in a very strange way, they are. It brings out the venomous, and indeed ruthless, side of you as you're rooting for the characters to succeed in their dubious aims. The film ends as it should, and after 90 minutes or so have passed, you realise that you've been laughing non-stop and that this is a comedy to savour. I enjoyed every minute of Ruthless People and I defy anyone to not laugh consistently through this. Genius.