Product Description

An urban hood given a new identity under the FBI witness protection program turns a suburban town upside down.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 1-JUN-2004
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5987 in DVD
• Brand: MARTIN,STEVE
• Released on: 2004-06-01
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

Underrated
Often judged as one of Steve Martin's weaker efforts, it is in my honest opinion that his 1990 vehicle "My Blue Heaven" ranks right up there with "The Jerk", "Father Of The Bride" and "Parenthood" as one of Steve Martin's best movies. With a great cast and crisp writing, it holds its owns with those oter comedy classics.

Vincent Antonelli (Martin) is a New York City gangster. He's tough, handsome and feared. However, when he witnesses a murder, he is put into the San Francisco division of the FBI's Witness Protection Program under the care of Agent Barney Coopersmith (Rick Moranis). Despite trying to hide his identity, Vinny can't help but stick his nose into trouble. This angers Barney as well as idealistic District Attorney Hannah Stubbs (Joan Cusack, cast to type once again), who clashes with Barney over how Vinnie's criminal offences should be handled. But soon, the rough edges are smoothed out. Vinnie and Barney become friends, and Barney and Hannah become an item. But the mob is after them, and a series of events leads for this happy picture to be smeared. It all leads up to a great conclusion.

"My Blue Heaven" is a hilarious film that belongs in anybody's dvd collection. Recommended.

THIS IS FUNNY!!
For the movie critics and other people who criticized Steve Martin for a "spoofy" portrayal of an Italian mobster.......that was the point! (hahaha) Anybody knows, if you want a "real" portrayal, you get De Niro or Pacino. This movie was meant to be cheesy and that's what makes it laugh out loud funny. I watched this movie years ago and it just made me laugh so much. The Mambo dance scenes alone are worth the cost. I do have to agree with a fellow review writer -- the DVD holds no extras, at all. I would have loved to have seen some outtakes. Still, at least I can play my favorite scenes over and over.

Brilliant Steve Martin vehicle! Don't miss the gangster and his nerdy FBI handler (Moranis)
My Blue Heaven is a movie I enjoyed as a kid (when my parents rented it) and have introduced to many of my friends in the ensuing years. If only comedy was still this good! Despite it's PG-13 rating, this movie is truly tam(er) compared to today's top-grossing comedy titles, and it still packs laugh after laugh.

There's no need for a detailed plot summary--Steve Martin is a NY Italian mafia member turned federal witness, so he's undercover in suburban San Diego with Rick Moranis as his straight-edge FBI babysitter (the man has a system for everything, including the eating of pancakes). Martin's monologues and pontifications and brilliant excuses for his petty thefts are worth the price of admission alone. Martin's mafia-cool influence on the nerdy Moranis is also absolutely priceless, full of laughs through-and-through. Joan Cusak gives an excellent performance as the uptight local DA (complete with Army shoes) who butts heads with Martin's petty crimes again and again.

Don't miss out on one of the most underrated and delicious comedy flicks of the 1980's (okay, so it did come out in 1990, but it rings 80's comedy all throughout). The DVD is certainly priced right!