Easy Money (1983)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Sadly Over-hyped

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

This movie is a must see for the Rodney Dangerfield fan. I think its his finest work as the main character. I grew up around neighbors like this character. The over protective father, pissing away the mortgage at the track for a "tip" that turns out to be mush. Out drinking late with his buddy every night.Rodney and Joey have great chemistry in this ... much funnier than Back to School yet doesn't get the credit ... some of the funniest zingers in a single movie aside from Midnight Run..you just cant help but laugh from beginning to end. Rodney plays the blue collar married father of two daughters to perfection. Joey plays the single playboy buddy / neighbor perfectly as well. Geraldine Fitz is great as the rich ball busting mother in law. Jennifer Jason Leigh has the "guidette daddy's little girl" down pat.

If you've seen any Rodney Dangerfield movie, then you should know what sorts of things to expect in "Easy Money". He plays a rowdy guy who has to end his vices so that he and his wife (Candice Azzara) will inherit a department store. Mostly, the movie is an excuse for Dangerfield to play his common role of the eternally obnoxious guy. But don't get me wrong, he ends up doing some funny stuff, with great support provided by Joe Pesci as his irresponsible friend, Geraldine Fitzgerald as the irritating mother-in-law and Taylor Negron as the mischievous son-in-law. One of the funniest scenes is the whole sequence in the department store; that must have been so much fun to film! All in all, it's not the funniest movie of all time, but does elicit a few laughs. Also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan, Tom Ewell (of "The Seven Year Itch") and Lili Haydn.

I was looking for a good comedy to watch and my mom recommended Easy Money which she had on VHS. I wasn't sure since I'm not a big fan of Rodney Dangerfield, but she mentioned that Joe Pesci and Jeffrey Jones, so I figured I would give it a shot. Now even though I'm not a fan of Rodney Dangerfield, I have to admit that he and the rest of the cast made this film extremely enjoyable. I really miss comedies like this, where the comedy was just so simple and had jokes that were a sure hit with most. Despite it being predictable and like a sit com, this was a great comedy.Monty is a rude, over weight alcoholic with a gambling problem, he has friends who have the same problem, but a family that still loves him. His daughter is about to get married to a gang member that he doesn't approve of. But when his mother in law dies, they inherit 10 million dollars, but there is an exception to when he gets the money, for a whole year, Monty has to behave and get clean and sober. With encouragement from his family and friends, Monty does the best he can to get that money.I just loved Joe Pesci, he's like that little kid who took on the big bully's and actually won the fight, he's just such a funny character, I love Joe! We also have the "unknown" actors of the time, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey Jones, among others. I loved the ending, it's definitely a classic and so funny. I would recommend this movie to anyone, it's all in good fun and a great comedy, we need more films like this today.8/10

Easy Money is the most underrated comedy out there. Everyone loves Caddyshack and that movie has many hilarious scenes, but it also has too much unnecessary drama involving the caddy and his Irish girlfriend. Michael O' Keefe's the caddy, a boring character with no trace of comedy to add to the film, and he's got the most screen time! Come on. Back to School is only funny when Rodney Dangerfield is on screen and too much time is devoted to his lame son. In Easy Money you get plenty of Rodney. You also get Joe Pesci in his funniest role ever. The best part of the film is it's realistic characters and situations. This film captures urban Italian Americans better than any film since Saturday Night Fever. The dialog is top notch and Geraldine Fitzgerald as Rodney's mother-in-law is pitch-perfect in her role. The direction is especially tight for a comedy as well. There is a wonderful crane shot of Rodney's daughter's backyard wedding party that captures urban living perfectly. There is also a nice balance of dialog humor and sight gags. A scene where two men try to break into Rodney's house is visually hilarious and Rodney riding an exercise bike into his Christmas tree is as good as sight gags get. The plot deals with Rodney's mother-in-law dying and leaving him her vast fortune. The catch is that he has to give up drugs, booze and gluttony for a whole year. The movie follows his struggle through that tough year. The plot works fine, but is immaterial for the most part. The film is about older men who may have married and reproduced, but still cruise around with the guys, smoking joints and drinking beers. It's about their easy camaraderie and the ball busting that is actually perpetrated as an endearment. Movies rarely showcase such characters, but there are plenty out there. Rodney Dangerfield and Joe Pesci represent them realistically and of course comedically as well. Look for an especially inspired scene where Rodney and Pesci check out the department store that Rodney will inherit if he makes good. It's one of those scenes that merits at least one rewind on video, believe me. A nearly flawless comedy and I highly recommend it!