Sequels rarely live up to the original, and this is no exception. It has its moments, as well as some laughs, but the original was better and funnier. I sort of liked it, but as I said... You might like it if you liked the original. ** out of ****

It could be "Analyze That" is even funnier than the original picture, and it certainly is more liberal in it's use of the F-bomb than "Analyze This". I guess that's because there were a lot more mobster characters in this one, as Paul Vitti (Robert DeNiro) is released into the custody of his psychiatrist Dr. Sobel (Billy Crystal). The picture takes on the guise of a caper movie during the latter third, and it wasn't quite clear to me at what point Vitti turned the tables on the the Rigazzi Gang and Patti LoPresti (Cathy Moriarty). With all the bullets flying, it's tough to keep straight who the 'good' bad guys and 'bad' bad guys are, but it's not important enough for me to watch it all over again. The one thing I noticed for the very first time in any film made after the events of 9/11, was the absence of the Twin Towers as part of the New York City skyline. Prominent by it's absence, it had me thinking about the picture in an entirely different light.

The first gangster comedy film was a surprising success, and they tried to create the same thing again with this sequel, from director Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day, Analyze This, Bedazzled). Basically Paul Vitti (Robert De Niro) is in prison following the events of the last film, and he seems do be cracking under the pressure, and he is fearing death. So naturally the one to called in to help him out is the psychiatrist and analyst he last saw, Dr. Ben Sobel (Billy Crystal) who has just lost his father. Paul appears to be catatonic when Ben visits him, but once they are are out of prison and the former gangster is Ben's responsibility, he shows he was faking. Paul is eager to both open up about his feelings once again, and try to find something to do to open up, make something of himself and feel good. He may in fact though be planning some big scheme, even when he finds a good job assisting the scriptwriter of a successful gangster drama show. Ben's wife Laura (Lisa Kudrow) is obviously not happy about the former gangster being Ben's responsibility, she would be even more unhappy if she knew their son Michael (Kyle Sabihy) was his driver. Of course it comes to the time when there is a big job, Paul has planned a robbery of a truck filled with gold bullion, and it seems to go reasonably well, up to the point when the police show up, and it is all part of the gangster show! In the end, the big crime family that the police wanted get caught, and Ben and Paul part ways as friends and singing a show tune from West Side Story. Also starring Joe Viterelli as Jelly, Reg Rogers as Raoul Berman, Cathy Moriarty as Patti LoPresti, John Finn as Richard Chapin and Callie Thorne as Agent Cerrone. Crystal is still great as the pressured, humiliated and embarrassed doctor, and De Niro is still good as the fast talking, rude and emotionally damaged crime lord. The film has its great comedic moments, but that is all it has, moments, it does not have the same dynamic the original had, but it is an alright crime comedy sequel. Okay!