The Don's Analyst

First of all, I've read in other reviews that this movie is a rip-off from 'Analyze This' and 'The Sopranos'. In my view, it's the other way around. This movie was released in 1997, the other ones in 1999. The movie itself is good, but not great. When I watched it, I had a few laughs and I certainly didn't bore myself. I'd give it a 7/10.

this move is much better than "analyze this". goes into more detail and has more laughs then the knockoff of this movie,just like almost any other remake. some movies are better off left alone. this movie stands on it's own.

This is another success in the long line of National Lampoon comedies. I don't understand why it didn't go to the theaters, because it was a great addition to the name National Lampoon. It has some of the same plot elements that made "Analyze This" a success. The thought of a mob boss seeking psychiatric help is absurd enough, but the way he and the analyst go through the psycho-analytical process will keep you in stitches.

It is certainly a made for TV film and the it is certainly a National Lampoon film; however, it deviates from the typical National Lampoon schlock that they are known for.

I've seen other reviewers who tore it to shreds that obviously saw it after the more popular big budget successor (Analyze This) and of comparing the cast....none of which is entirely fair. While the two movies have the same conceit, they are significantly different in that one was a big budget theater release with major (popular) cast and the other movie was a made-for-TV/cable movie with lesser known and/or actors who were no longer major actors. That's like trying to compare a Rolex and a Timex.....they may both keep time perfectly, one is appreciated for the craftsmanship and materials and the other for just being what it is and doing what it's supposed to do.....it doesn't mean that they should not both be appreciated for what they are.

The Don's Analyst in many ways is a bit more straightforward....an elderly mob boss is cracking up and ends up seeing an analyst who's life begins to fall apart and in fear for his life with the insanity of coping with the mob boss and his family, his wife, etc... The mob boss is struggling with failed relationships, regret over the past, etc...

While the special effects are schlocky and the acting and situations are intentionally over the top as you would expect in a National Lampoon release, I still find it the more entertaining between it and the newer film.

Opinions of course vary and some may appreciate it and others may not....but, as long as you are not expecting another entry in the Analyze This franchise and accept it for being a National Lampoon Made-for-TV film, it should be enjoyed.

When I sat down to watch this I wasn't sure what it was going to be. Seeing the National Lampoon name on it I'd assumed it was going to be a comedy. After a while I realised that I wasn't laughing very much (if at all) and I assumed it must be a drama about the pressures of family life set in the mob.

As I watched this drama I then realised that the actors were playing mob caricatures with very weak performances and that the plot was lame and boring. So what was I watching!!!?

As the film closed I realised what I had done - I had wasted my time watching an idea that would later be done much better in both "Analyse This!" (for the gags) and "The Sopranos" (for the drama). Unfortunately that's all this seems to want to be, the film honestly has next to no laughs and no drama. I know Analyse This was only so-so itself, but it felt like the peak of comedy once I'd seen this.

It's truly sad that well-known actors such as Kevin Pollack and Sherilyn Fenn get involved with this nonsense. They have nothing to really do and I just felt that they were totally, totally wasted. The rest of the cast just stumble round in various stereotypical characters without any actual personalities or character, they are surprisingly dull and deadly unfunny.

Watching this almost makes me feel insulted that someone in TV land decided that this was all the entertainment I needed for a Friday evening.