Johnny Dangerously

1984

Johnny Dangerously

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

44%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 16

63%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,201

All Critics | Top Critics

Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

Average Rating: 3.3/5

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Movie Info

This spoof of the 1930s and '40s crime stories ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime as it tells the story of Johnny Dangerously (Byron Thames as the young Johnny, Michael Keaton as the older), a devoted son to his ailing mother (Maureen Stapleton), so ill that she needs money for several operations. Johnny has nowhere to turn, and because gangsters tend to flourish in his neighborhood he goes to work for Dundee, a benevolent godfather-gangster type, in order to cover his mother's medical bills. Johnny hides his association with Dundee from his younger brother Tommy (Griffin Dunne) and goes so far as to pay for Tommy's law school fees -- supporting him until Tommy joins the staff of the local (and corrupt) district attorney's office for Burr (Danny DeVito). When Johnny starts working for Dundee, he clashes with the evil Vermin (Joe Piscopo) right from the beginning, but things only get worse. After Dundee decides to retire, Johnny ascends to the helm, and it does not look like Vermin is going to take that sitting down.

Rating:

PG-13 (adult situations/language)
Genre:

Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

Amy Heckerling
Written By:

Harry Colomby, Lorenzo Semple Jr., Norman Steinberg
In Theaters:

Dec 21, 1984 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Aug 27, 2002
Runtime:

90 minutes
Studio:

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Cast

Michael Keaton
as Johnny Kelly/Johnny Dangerously

Joe Piscopo
as Danny Vermin

Marilu Henner
as Lil

Maureen Stapleton
as Ma Kelly

Peter Boyle
as Dundee

Griffin Dunne
as Tommy

Glynnis O'Connor
as Sally

Dom DeLuise
as The Pope

Richard Dimitri
as Maroni

Danny DeVito
as Burr

Ron Carey
as Pat

Ray Walston
as Vendor

Dick Butkus
as Arthur

Byron Thames
as Young Johnny

Alan Hale Jr.
as Desk Sergeant

Scott Thomson
as Charley

Sudie Bond
as Cleaning Woman

Mark Jantzen
as Dutch

Gary Watkins
as Manny

Mike Bacarella
as Vito

Hank Garrett
as Mayor

Leonard Termo
as Tony Scarano

Alexander Herzberg
as Boy in Suit

Georg Olden
as Young Vermin

Cynthia Szigeti
as Mrs. Capone

Elizabeth Arlen
as Girl on Steps

Doris Grossman
as Woman

Richard Warwick
as Prisoner

Mike Finneran
as Prisoner

Troy W. Slaten
as Young Tommy

Paul B. Price
as Prisoner

Katie La Bourdette
as Blond Girl

Norman Steinberg
as Reporter Duffy

Frank Slaten
as Henchman

Dean R. Miller
as Photographer

Neal Israel
as Dr. Zillman

Edward Short
as Porter

Shelley Pogoda
as Woman

Jerome Michaels
as Reporter Diering

Russell Forte
as Hood

Dean Miller
as Photographer

Jack Nance
as Priest

Michael Joy
as Chorus Girl

Rick Rosenthal
as Judge

Carl Gottlieb
as Dr. Magnus

Paula Dell
as Mrs. Zimmer

Harvey Parry
as Policeman

Jeffrey Weissman
as T-Shirt Vendor

Richard A. Roth
as Prisoner Rabbi

Chuck Hicks
as Governor

Bob Eubanks
as Emcee

Gordon Zimmerman
as Prisoner

Dick Balduzzi
as Prisoner

Mert Rich
as Man

Will Seltzer
as Prisoner

Hal Riddle
as Warden

Trisha Long
as Female Butler

Claudia Kim
as Girl

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Critic Reviews for Johnny Dangerously

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (9) | DVD (3)

The great shame is that this mess belongs to director Amy Heckerling, whose gentle touch made "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" so much more than a teen sex comedy.

Jan 2, 2018 | Full Review…

Paul Attanasio
Washington Post
Top Critic
Keaton in starring role helps, but overall average laughs.

Mar 6, 2008 | Rating: 3/5

Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com
Good spoof of The Roaring Twenties

Aug 13, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Michael E. Grost
Classic Film and Television
Sorta funny for a while, but it runs out of ammo long before it's over

Oct 2, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
I know I shouldn't like this film, but dammit, it's just so gloriously exuberantly silly that there's no use condemning it.

Apr 14, 2003 | Rating: 3/5

Rob Vaux
Flipside Movie Emporium
A mob comedy that shoots only blanks.

Mar 30, 2003 | Rating: 0/5

Beth Accomando
KPBS.org
...the film doesn't just run out of laughs; it becomes positively leaden by the last half hour.

Sep 18, 2002 | Rating: 5/10

John J. Puccio
Movie Metropolis
"what looks like a sure thing misfires miserably"

Jul 29, 2002 | Rating: 1/5

James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette

View All Critic Reviews (16)

Audience Reviews for Johnny Dangerously

So funny and entertaining, I really enjoyed it, even if some parts were a little too ridiculous. Most of the time this is a very cool movie. It is a spoof of 30s-40s gangster and film noir movies. If you like those movies, check this out.

Aj V

Super Reviewer

This pastiche of old school gangster films has a couple of funny moments, but spread over 90 minutes it soon wears out it's welcome.

xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

The Indian mobster was hilarious!

Michael Gildea

Super Reviewer

½

Not bad of wild spoof 1930's gangster film.

Dean McKenna

Super Reviewer

Johnny Dangerously Quotes

Priest:

I missed the bus, you missed the bus, when's the next bus?

Johnny Dangerously:	How is she, Doc?
Dr. Magnus:	It's her thyroid, Johnny.
Johnny Dangerously:	Oh. What's wrong with it?
Dr. Magnus:	That's the thing! I can't find it! We're going to have to do a thyroid search.

Lil:	I hope this is doing something for your morale.

Vermin:

You shouldn't hang me on a door. My father hung me on a door, once. ONCE.

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