If there were no credits and nobody told you, it would be impossible to guess that this mob comedy was directed by Brian De Palma. The premise has comic possibilities (two good-natured, low-ranking hoodlums who also happen to be best friends are ordered to kill each other), but the story soon abandons that premise; this film is too touchy-feely for a black comedy. There is also a problem in the chemistry between Danny De Vito and Joe Piscopo: De Vito is full of energy, but sometimes he seems to be playing alone because Piscopo can't keep up with him. But the biggest problem is that the movie is short on laughs - I laughed out loud only twice: at De Vito's "Are You Talking' To Me?" impression at the start, and in the "Just do what I do!" scene in the church. Cute Italian-flavored music score by Ira Newborn. *1/2 out of 4.
Review of Wise Guys
