Ruthless People (1986)
Ruthless People (1986)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: It's sometimes crude and tasteless, but Ruthless People wrings acid-soaked laughs out of its dark premise and gleefully misanthropic characters.
Ruthless People Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Earl Mott
as Barbara Stone
as Sam Stone
as Sandy Kessler
as Ken Kessler
as Heavy Metal Kid
as Bedroom Killer
as Lt. Bender
as Lt. Walters
as The Mugger
as Cop at Sam's House
as Carol Dodsworth
as Hooker in Car
as Technician
as Model
as Stereo Store Customer
as Police Commissioner
as Sam's Attorney
as Judge
as Social Worker
as Cop with Killer Picture
as Stereo Store Customer
as Cop at Jail
as Loan Officer
as Waiter
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Critic Reviews for Ruthless People
All Critics (35) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (2) | DVD (3)
The characters here aren't just bad; most of them are truly vile -- human slime. And the film makers chew them up (especially two nefarious bonbons played by Danny DeVito and Bette Midler) with the toothsome glee of jolly cannibals.
Much of the fun of this comedy is in watching what happens as virtually everyone in the movie tries to double-cross or otherwise take advantage of everyone else.
An undemanding but well-executed entertainment.
Ruthless People contains some of the biggest laughs of 1986.
It's a rare kind of craftsmanship, and it produces a rare kind of pleasure.
Ruthless People is a hilariously venal comedy about a kidnapped harridan whose rich husband won't pay for her return.
Audience Reviews for Ruthless People
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.
Super Reviewer
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.
Super Reviewer
While not as entirely crazy and hilarious as their Naked Gun films, this comedy by the Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker team still shows some trademarks of the same kind of humor: wonderfully ditsy main characters, fights with kitchen utensils and plenty of mix-ups. While Frank Drebin's adventures are more like a 90 minute collection of gags, the plot here is actually quite smart and make use of all of its characters and the chaos that entails. Bette Midler is particularly funny and outshine her two kidnappers easily. The clever solution to the entire confusion is also quite clever. Soundtrack and look of the film make it a perfect example of the 80s comedy that may not have aged well but still have that particular charm and the jokes still work years later.
Super Reviewer
Ruthless People Quotes
| Lt. Bender: | That might be the stupidest man on the face of the planet. |
| Lt. Walters: | Maybe we should shoot him. |