I'm a big Amy Heckerling fan. After all, she directed
Fast Times at Ridgemont High,
European Vacation, and
Clueless. She's a master of screwball comedy.
Johnny Dangerously, though not as well known as the rest, is no exception. Set in the 1920s and 30s' gang warfare of the New York streets,
Dangerously is a great vehicle for Michael Keaton's comedic talents. There are also a lot of other random appearances of famous comedians (Dom DeLuise, Griffin Dunne, Peter Boyle, and Ray Walston). The movie's plot... well, it doesn't really have a plot, but the idea is simple: Johnny's poor. His mom's sick. She's in constant need of medical care. He turns to crime to pay the bills and his brother's way through law school. His brother, in turn, becomes the local district attorney. You can figure out the rest. The most enjoyable thing about watching this movie, however, isn't the plot. It's just seeing how many lame puns, sexual innuendos, cheap slapstick, and anachronistic cultural references the cast and crew can sneak into such a short film (I think it's under 90 minutes). There's no room for intellect here, but there's a lot of room for laughs. Oh, and Marilu Henner does an excellent job as the nightclub singer/love interest.
--A.Y.