[.ca] Ruthless People (Widescreen)

From Amazon.com:
A milestone comedy of the 1980s, Ruthless People delighted critics and audiences alike and set the tone of Hollywood comedies for years to come. Along with that other popular farce about wealthy Californians, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, this ingenious romp revived Bette Midler's career and launched Disney (by way of its subsidiary, Touchstone Pictures) into the lucrative production of R-rated comedies; it also ensured the star power of then-TV star Danny DeVito. Dale Launer became Hollywood's hot screenwriter du jour by cleverly reworking O. Henry's Ransom of Red Chief into a wicked tale of marital malice heightened by a bungled kidnapping. Midler is sublime as the victim of low-rent abductors ("I've been kidnapped by Kmart!"), and DeVito's the gleeful philanderer who refuses to pay ransom for his wife's unwanted return. With Anita Morris, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, and Bill Pullman among the plot-twisting schemers, the movie's so much fun that an eventual remake seems almost inevitable. --Jeff Shannon

This Movie Has EVERYTHING!:
"Rutheless People" is a great comedy. But unlike other comedies, this one has a creative plot that puts "serious" movies to shame. Disgustingly-rich (and just generally disgusting) Sam Stone is plotting to kill his wife when kidnappers take her away and threaten to do the job for him! Stone thinks he can just ignore them and have the problem take care of itself, but the kidnappers won't kill Stone's wife and won't leave him alone. To make matters more complex, another set of meddlers caught on to Stone's original murder plot and are trying to blackmail him. In addition to kidnapping and blackmail, this movie features an incredibly stupid man, a brief appearance by a psychopath, cops that don't care, cops that are stupid, cops that are smart, and twisted plots by all parties involved. The movie carries a full load and there are no slow moments.

The era of Bette:
1986 to 1989 were big years for Bette Davis on the movie scene. In 1986 she filmed Ruthless People with Danny DeVito and the lesser known Helen Slater (Supergirl fame). Ruthless People, while a bit dated, has some hilarious moments and needs inclusion in any Midler collection. Who could forget the kidnapped Midler lifting paint cans to keep fit and lose weight. Well, it's one way to keep yourself busy while being kidnapped. Bette went on to star in the funny, but not as good as, "Outrageous Fortune" with Shelly Long. DVD SUMMARY: Ruthless People is a bare-bones DVD. However, worth owning for the Bette factor alone!

Ruthlessly Funny:
Sam Stone only married his wife, Barbara, for her money. Now he's anxious to get rid of her. Before he can do the deed, though, someone does him a huge favor by kidnapping her. What could be better? All he has to do is not pay the ransom and his problem is solved. Barbara's bungling kidnappers find themselves stuck with a worthless hostage. RUTHLESS PEOPLE is a very funny movie. It's well plotted, well acted and keeps you laughing all the way. While not quite a classic, it was one of the top comedies of the mid-80's and resurrected Bette Midler's movie career. My only caution is that this is definitely NOT a movie for kids. Crude language is scattered throughout and there is some blatantly sexual material. While it might offend a few people, it's pretty mild by current standards. You could see almost as much in a Super Bowl halftime show. I've liked RUTHLESS PEOPLE ever since I first saw it at the theater. It's a first-rate adult comedy. If you'd like some laughs, this is a good choice.

Fumbling kidnappers join forces with victim:
Bette Midler in yet another one of her pain-in-the-neck roles. The wife of a wealthy man (played by Danny DeVito) is kidnapped for ransome by a desperate young couple (definite novices to the kidnapping racket), only to learn that DeVito has no intention of paying up, as he had long been tired of his nagging wife. DeVito plays up the heart-broken husband to police, while Midler and her captors are devising a plan to get even with the s.o.b. There are many hilarious scenes, and even some moving moments of emotional sweetness, but soon past the half-way mark the engines lose steam. By the time everyone reaches the finish-line, the hot-cake has definitely cooled off. Still an enjoyable piece of light-hearted comedy, slap-stick, non-sense and all.****

'I've been kidnapped by K-Mart!":
Extremely funny movie. Danny Devito plays the part of a husband who married his wife for her money and now wants to get rid of her (he's got a girlfriend on the side). Bette Middler plays the loud-mouth rich wife. Just when Devito decides to put his plans into action, she is kidnapped. He is thrilled and refuses to pay the ransom hoping the kidnappers will follow through on their threat to knock her off if he doesn't pay up. While he's laughing and celebrating, the police think he's mourning. The kidnappers find they've taken on more than the average kidnapped victim, especially since they are really a soft-hearted couple who felt Danny owed them for ripping off the wife's idea. Bette Midler is no tame, soft spoken woman. The movie is one of those side-splitting comedies that is great from the start to the finish! Enjoy!