Mad Dog and Glory (1993)

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Arriving at the scene of a violent double-murder, timid police detective Robert De Niro (as Wayne Dobie) goes to buy some Twinkies at the local convenience store. The shooter happens to be robbing the place, has killed a third victim, and is threatening to shoot again. Showing rare courage and compassion, Mr. De Niro talks the killer into sparing the life of wise-cracking Bill Murray (as Frank Milo), who is also in the store. It turns out that Mr. Murray is not only an aspiring stand-up comic, but also a mobster...Taking advice from his therapist, Murray gratefully sends De Niro a "thank you present." She's played by arousing Uma Thurman (as Glory). De Niro is offered her services for one week, but decides he wants to keep Ms. Thurman longer. Even before Thurman takes off her clothes, she looks worth the effort. But, mobsters being very particular, Murray wants Thurman returned after the week is over..."Mad Dog and Glory" is keenly directed by John McNaughton. De Niro's partner David Caruso (as Mike) and Murray's henchman Mike Starr (as Harold) are perfect in complimenting their excellent co-stars. What doesn't work is a bloody opening that turns out to be only remotely connected to the characters; perhaps, in an earlier draft, the young hoods more clearly had ties to Murray's criminal activities. Thurman's character is also too vague, and the ending could have been less routine. But it's still worth viewing.****** Mad Dog and Glory (3/5/93) John McNaughton ~ Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Bill Murray, David Caruso

Mad Dog and Glory (1993) **** (out of 4) A lonely and wimpy cop (Robert DeNiro) saves the life of a mobster (Bill Murray) so as a thank you gift the mobster gives the cop a thank you present for a week in the form of Glory (Uma Thurman). The two eventually fall in love but since she's still the gangster girl there's going to be a problem with the cop trying to keep her. I still remember when this film was released as it got all sorts of very good reviews but it didn't really catch an audience, which is a real shame but the bigger shame is that it still hasn't become too well known even after fifteen years. To me this is one of the best comedies of the decade and a film that gets better with each new viewing. What makes this comedy so special is that we get two great actors changing their roles and playing the opposite of what we're use to seeing them do. I also think this is one of DeNiro's greatest performance just because of how fun he is here. We're use to seeing him play dark and tormented characters so it's great fun seeing him at the opposite end of the pole and playing a real wimp who really can't do anything right. Murray is downright wonderful in the role of the mobster who wants to be a comic. Murray's comic timing hits all the right notes and he even manages to come off threatening in the scenes where he has to try and rough up DeNiro. Thurman is easy on the eyes and comes off very well. Supporting players David Caruso, Mike Starr, Kathy Baker and Tom Towles also shine in their moments. Starr isn't very well known but he's always been one of my favorite character actors and his brand of comedy adds a lot of great scenes to the film. All of the comedy leads to a wonderful street fight at the end when DeNiro finally snaps and becomes the "Mad Dog", which is a hilarious sequence and in my opinion one of the best street fights in any movie. After seeing DeNiro's character being bullied the entire film, to finally see him snap was very exciting and funny.

Most things in Mad Dog and Glory work. The film uses humour, a love story, cross casting and a scrape of suspense well and at various different intervals. What doesn't work are the overall frustrations that bog the film down. The premise is so simple, watching it might make you think you've seen it a hundred times before but that doesn't detract too much. De Niro plays a role that I hadn't seen him play before and must admit, I didn't think he had it in him following other such performances like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Ronin where he played various different roles with various different aims. Here he pulls off the nervous, shy photographer whom just goes about his business and although it takes some getting used to, it's a pleasant surprise.He can be contrasted with Bill Murray's character of Frank Milo who is a criminal/mob boss that is saved by De Niro's character following a gun point robbery. What's clever about this fact is that Murray is playing the character De Niro normally plays and vice-versa. Throughout the film, the script is consistent. Mad Dog (De Niro) gets to confess some jokes to Milo since he also works as a stand up comic; something we're more familiar to Bill Murray doing, and the awkward exchanges between Mad Dog and Glory (Thurman) also evoke some emotions.Uma Thurman is just about 'put-upable' in this film. Her character is right on that fine-line you get that separates 'likeable' and 'annoying' in a very distinct way. Once more, the overall treatment of the female characters also stands out in a rather obvious way. At the bars, it's all women who run around serving the men who sit there and enjoy themselves; the character of Glory, as I've said, has a dopey, annoying voice and is someone whom is to phone Milo on instructions. Glory isn't very smart either and when, nearer the end in a heated exchange between Mad Dog and Milo, Milo yells 'You love her? I OWN her!' it's really made to seem like the screenwriter has something against the female side of our species.Although the film is pretty much consistent throughout in its subject matter with Mad Dog and Glory spending enough time with one another to begin to like each other, Frank Milo remaining a constant, background friend and foe alike; it falters towards the end when certain characters try to raise money and the ending is such a horrible, happy, un-realistic ending – it actually leaves a bad taste in the mouth when the feeling should be very different. Sure, I was happy for the characters involved but it was too generic. Reading up on it, I found that there were two endings meaning that even the makers were undecided.Regarding Uma Thurman, this is a film of hers I feel I never would have seen had it not been for some dedicated searching and I was certainly very surprised when the sex scenes with De Niro came along since I'd always assumed she'd done Dangerous Liasons in 1988 and then nothing until 1994's Pulp Fiction which then, kick-started what was a series of successful, well known films. The reason for my surprise is that I never hear anyone mention this film as one of either Thurman's or De Niro's best. It's true that it's far from great but the sheer surprise at realising both had done this film in their careers is enough to realise and to respect the acting talent involved. From now on, when people speak of Uma Thurman or Robert De Niro, this is a film of their's I will bring up and probably recommend.

having already seen bill Murray in the likes of groundhogs day and caddyshack makes it almost impossible to see him as a gangster in this film. the casting director to a bold choice to switch up deniro and Murray from the parts that might have suited them, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work quite right. deniro's weakness makes him unlikable, and Murray's mannerisms make him unbelievable. the only character that makes it out OK is David Caruso...... somehow? I wanted to like this film but found myself quite bored by it early on. And the end seemed rushed and hackneyed, thus undermining the entire plot of the movie. i say skip it.5 out of 10