Ruthless People

Ruthless People is an exuberantly audacious screwball comedy that revolves around a seemingly cruel kidnap plot and delightfully absurd characters drenched in hilarious behaviors and dialogues. This 1986 comedic gem, co-directed by Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers, features the outstanding acting chops of Bette Midler, Danny DeVito, and Judge Reinhold.

The story centers on Sam Stone, a crass millionaire played convincingly by Danny DeVito, who has made his fortune selling shoddy clothing. Sam possesses an abject dislike for his narcissistic wife, Barbara, a role brilliantly personified by Bette Midler, whom he considers annoying, spoiled, and fat. Sam, in his morose fantasies, plans to murder Barbara and abscond with a mistress so that he could finally get his hands on Barbara's hefty inheritance. However, much to his delight, a golden opportunity presents itself when a supposedly perfect couple kidnaps his detestable wife.

The sweet-natured couple, Ken and Sandy Kessler, portrayed supremely by Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater respectively, have their reasons for stepping in the kidnappers' shoes. Sam Stone has stolen Sandy's innovative clothing design and made it a roaring success, thereby scamming her out of her well-deserved riches. This spurs the crimeless couple's plot to kidnap Barbara in pursuit of their revenge, expecting to extort a ransom from Sam.

However, when Sam discovers his wife has been abducted, he could not be happier. Instead of desperately striving to pay the ransom, he feels ecstatic and relieved at his sudden windfall, reacting in the completely opposite way to what the novice kidnappers had anticipated. His gratitude towards the kidnappers for taking his obnoxious wife off his hands creates a mesh of convoluted situations filled with hilarity, mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and a series of comedic disasters.

As the movie progresses, Bette Midler as Barbara nonetheless captures the audience's heart with her transformation from a pampered, ruthless woman into a surprisingly agile and determined character under her ludicrous duress. Midler's mercurial on-screen character offers a brilliant contrast to Danny DeVito's superb portrayal of a constantly scheming yet lovably despicable Sam.

Judge Reinhold as Ken and Helen Slater as Sandy are pure gold in their roles of kind-natured yet opportunistic lawbreakers. Their priceless interactions with the captured Barbara, who displays an uncanny will power and dogged perseverance, add further to the multi-layered humor that the storyline offers.

Ruthless People is filled with a host of side split oddball supporting characters that add further richness to the movie's ambiance. Bill Pullman plays the role of the world's dumbest criminal, whose idiotic antics contribute greatly to the hysterical laughter inherent in the storyline. Anita Morris and Art Evans team up as a seductive vixen and a hapless police officer to create a subplot that weaves seamlessly into the narrative, adding an additional layer of comedic chaos and confusion.

The script is peppered with strong dialogues, outrageous plot twists, and a multitude of laughs, ensuring that there's never a dull moment. The film exudes a narrative energy that's as potent as its physical humor, keeping audiences entertained and on the edge of their seats.

Ruthless People effortlessly marries the sensibilities of a madcap caper with a solidly plotted narrative that delves into human weaknesses and avarice. This film is a tour de force in the comedy genre, a testament to the deft handling by the directorial trio of Abrahams and the Zucker brothers. Their execution enhances an already razor-sharp script, blending a whirlwind of slapstick humor, and clever social commentary into a wildly entertaining joyride.

The set pieces, costumes, and settings are marked by a uniquely vibrant '80s aesthetic that adds visual charm and aligns perfectly with the outrageous antics of the characters. The score by Michel Colombier underscores the movie's eccentric and humorous tone and successfully amps up the pace of the on-screen fun.

In short, Ruthless People is an unabashed celebration of greed, blocking, and comedy, delivering a brilliantly woven storyline encapsulated by a powerhouse cast. Despite the years that have passed since its original release, Ruthless People has not lost its charm and continues to serve up ample belly laughs to different generations of audiences, marking it as a classic in the comedy genre.