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Ruthless People

Ruthless People (1986)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 0

audience

63

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 20,473

My Rating

Movie Info

The last film to be co-directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, Ruthless People stars Bette Midler (capitalizing on her comeback performance in Down and Out in Beverly Hills) as Barbara, a spoiled rich woman who is kidnapped by the kindly Ken and Sandy Kessler (Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater). Barbara's forceful husband Sam (Danny DeVito) has ripped off the Kesslers and they decide to hold Barbara for ransom. Sam, who hates his wife, refuses to pay. Eventually Barbara befriends

R,

Comedy

,

O. Henry, Dale Launer

Apr 2, 2002

Buena Vista Pictures

Cast

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All Critics (24) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (2) | DVD (7)

Ruthless People is a hilariously venal comedy about a kidnapped harridan whose rich husband won't pay for her return.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
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A pity that the directors prove less ruthless than their own creations, but there is more than enough here for people who enjoy murder attempts on cute pet poodles.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
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Though ''Ruthless People'' has few moments to equal the inspired lunacies of ''Airplane!'' it's a true farce -- uniformly, cheerily nasty...

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
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DeVito is the mainspring of "Ruthless People," the engine of murderous intensity right at the center. His passion is so palpable that it adds weight to all the other performances in the movie.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

DeVito at his best.

December 4, 2006
ColeSmithey.com

One of the best comedy capers of the 80's

March 11, 2006
Moviehole

Funny and fearless

September 9, 2004
New Times

Funny, nasty 80s update of "The Ransom of Red Chief." The Ref found similar dark laughs a decade later.

May 22, 2004
Flipside Movie Emporium

A wonderful cynical comedy filled with mean-spirited, but humorous, zest. Loads of fun!

October 9, 2003
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

...a large number of Ruthless People's jokes work and work well.

November 9, 2002 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews
Reel Film Reviews

Audience Reviews for Ruthless People

Ruthless People is a fun, entertaining comedy film that has good gags going for it. I enjoyed the film, but it did lack in some areas, and it could have been a bit better. However this is a good little comedy that was directed by the guys who made Airplane! However this isn't their best work. Bette Midler is very good here, and she makes the film worth seeing. I, on the other hand, never did enjoy Devitto's work, but I like him here, and he is pretty funny in his part. The film manages to be good enough to be a worthwhile comedy to watch, and if you're looking for a pleasant time waster, then give this one a shot. Although not the greatest comedy, there are enough effective elements to make this one a memorable flick to watch. I even if at times the film's material lacks, the cast do affine job to elevate this film into very humorous moments that works throughout. Everything you'd expect from the directors is present and there's enough zany humor to make this one worth seeing despite its flaws. I liked the film, and it's smartly constructed and it manages to rely more on its great cast, which are just funny on-screen to really make it standout above its flaws. Enjoy this crazy ride. Middler is great here, and she is one of the film's biggest strengths with a well written script that has more good things going for it than bad, directors, Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker craft a fine little comedy that is sure to please comedy lovers.
December 10, 2012
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

Without all the madness of Airplane, The Naked Gun or Top Secret, the trio: Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker made a terrific intelligent comedy, with the misunderstandings between the characters, the complex plot, a funny cast (with the best of Danny DeVito) make Ruthless People one of the greatest comedy film of the 80's and of the Touchstone Pictures. Fresh.
July 6, 2012
Lucas Martins

Super Reviewer

    1. Lt. Bender: That might be the stupidest man on the face of the planet.
    2. Lt. Walters: Maybe we should shoot him.
    – Submitted by Conner F (20 months ago)

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