The idea is clever but the movie can't seem to pull its comic weight: Steve Martin plays a mob informer who is placed in the witness-protection program and doesn't fit into the suburban California life the Feds have picked out for him. Rick Moranis is the FBI agent assigned to protect him. Martin mugs his way through the role of an Italian wise guy from the New York streets, but his performance is never more than an impersonation. The script leaves a lot to be desired, as well. Director Herbert Ross (The Turning Point) brings some gloss to the production, but he can't seem to do much else with the material. --Tom Keogh
2.
This witty comedy stars Steve Martin as Vinnie, a smooth-talking mobster who is relocated from New York City to a suburb of San Diego by the Federal Witness Protection Program in exchange for testifying against the mob. Vinnie must start life over in a quaint town--with a new name, bad Italian food, and too much clean air. Before long his mafioso wife has packed her bags and Vinnie is left to make do, with nothing to keep himself entertained--until he runs across some old friends from the Big Apple and they start up a little business of their own. Vinnie's bad behavior wreaks havoc on the life of Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis), the straitlaced FBI agent assigned to protect him. Barney must struggle with Hannah, the local assistant D.A. (Joan Cusack), to keep Vinnie out of prison and safe from the mob before his testimony. Before long, Vinnie is sweet-talking Hannah into dates with Barney and teaching Barney how to dance, dress, and become a lady killer as they run from Mafia hit men and narily escape murder in Manhattan. MY BLUE HEAVEN is a fun comedy, particularly worth watching for the interplay between Martin and Moranis.
3.
The FBI's Witness Protection Program is turned funnyside up when Steve Martin and Rick Moranis play mob informant Vinnie Antonelli and agent Barney Coopersmith in this criminally comic caper. Vinnie's got smooth moves, a swank wardrobe and a mean dance step. His identity, home and lawn mower are new, but he's still the same: a guy with an eternal scam. That makes overseer Barney a guy with a huge headache.
Co-stars Joan Cusack, Carol Kane, Melanie Mayron and William Hickey, director Herbert Ross (The Goodbye Girl) and writer Nora Ephron (Michael, You've Got Mail) ably aid and abet the two stars. No wonder My Blue Heaven is a paradise for lovers of funny, funny stuff!
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