Written by: Harry Colomby & Jeff Harris
Starring: Michael Keaton, Joe Piscopo, Marilu Henner, Maureen Stapleton, Peter Boyle, Griffin Dunne
Rating: [3.5/5]
A life of crime can surely pay the bills, as these illicit activities provide an income source that legal methods may not provide so regularly. A lesson the protagonist of Johnny Dangerously learns at a very early age and utilizes to build up a lifestyle where he can support those he loves. However, as we all know those in his line of work must contend with the danger, which this hilarious film does in the most ridiculously funny ways.
Starting a life of crime from a young age to pay for his mother’s medical operations, Johnny Kelly (Michael Keaton) takes on a new last name of Dangerously as he rises up the ranks to lead his own gang. With Johnny’s family having no knowledge of this, his younger brother Tommy (Griffin Dunne) grows up to enforce the law, which will unknowingly put them at odds with each other.
The comedy used in Johnny Dangerously has a very specific slant to it that not all will appreciate. A wisecracking element that makes some of these moments unbelievable but they really should not be taken seriously and it simply just works for me. A type of absurdist comedy that allows for these actors to go over the top with their performances and have it all fit within what this narrative wants to display and the feeling it seeks to capture. It ultimately presents a jolly good time that leaves plenty to enjoy for those who vibe with it.
While Johnny goes through his days, we see this hilarious convergence of everything coalescing around him. Everyone seems to love him to an absurd degree to even the District Attorney, Burr (Danny DeVito), who’s in his pocket having romantic feelings for the gangster. He walks around high on life making the sudden changes for him involving his brother that are much of a catalyst for what the climax will reveal. It creates an admittedly cheesy but at least tonally consistent project that allows for plenty of enjoyment to be had.
As we continue to navigate this plot, we see the eventual collision course of Tommy in his pursuits to become a District Attorney unknowingly funded by his gangster brother and the fact they will at some point become adversaries in their place of work. A chance brotherly love will get challenged by the struggles of Tommy learning what Johnny has been from the very beginning, which has the potential for some heartbreak when all the cards get laid out and the truth gets revealed. But in keeping with the tone of this film, we have continual near-misses and misunderstandings that will draw out this reveal for as much as possible, seeing as that will change the dynamic of the story and the actions involved within it.
As silly as this all gets, it presents the perfect situation for Michael Keaton to have a blast with what this role required. Operating in the 1980s, Keaton knocked it out of the park just like Tom Hanks with these overtly silly comedies. Just as he did Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice, Keaton rose up to the challenge in delivering hilarious performances in the comedy realm, showing the man always knows how to dial and ham it up. His performance as Johnny serves as the main event in enjoying this film as he matches everything Amy Heckerling seeks to evoke through this character. He serves as a great anchor for the other characters to build on and enjoy their parts, especially Joe Piscopo as Danny Vermin and the aforementioned Danny DeVito as District Attorney Butt. A wonderful coalition of talent all brought together in the casting to make all of this enjoyable.
Truly a fun delight to navigate through and enjoy, Johnny Dangerously presents a jolly good time with a story we have seen before in the gangster genre but told through an unapologetically comedic lens that left me giggling in laughter on several occasions. This film remains something entirely of its own and its entertainment factor spearheaded by Michael’s Keaton’s performance remains one of high quality across the board. Bundles of fun that will work for the right person and if their sensibilities match the comedy on display here.
Films with Josh 
