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Unbelievably clever.

Just to start, the Screenplay: there's not an empty moment in this flick. Every scene, every word, every action has comedic significance. It's a prime example of superior screenwriting. Ruthless people intertwines essentially four stories: Sam Stone's (Devito) plot to get rid of his wife, Barbara Stone's experience as the kidnapping victim of a couple who are anything but Ruthless, the kidnappers (Reinhold and Slater) and their troubled existence, and finally-and most comically-Stone's mistress and her boyfriend's hapless scheme to extort money. The cast: this is without a doubt a career highlight for both Devito and Middler. Devito's scenes are always the film's funniest. Middler terrorizes her kidnappers as no other actress could. A first class comedy no doubt.

Ruthless People

Funny Rodeo Drive rendition of the O'Henry story "The Ransom of Red Chief," with DeVito playing a spandex mogul whose wife (Midler) is kidnapped...but he's happy not to pay the ransom or get her back.

A hoot, but deserves R Rating

The neat thing about this comedy is how it keeps weaving the characters back and forth, and how their follies and misunderstandings keep making things worse. Favorite lines: Bette Midler, who's been kidnapped: "Let me understand this: I'm being MARKED DOWN!?" And boob to cops: "Are you the the Police?" Chief:"No, we're the National Rifle Association!"

There is also the rather cute idea that the way you make a spoiled character like Midler protrays lose weight is to chain her down,control her diet and get her to watch exercise shows.

Required viewing for cynics

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***"Ruthless People" is wonderfully sardonic piece of work. This film not only suggests the world is filled with horndogs and idiots. It revels in the notion.Everyone here is well cast, including Helen Slater, and how often can you say that? Danny DeVito cranks up his Napoleon-Complex malevolence several notches, Bette Midler snarls through her role like it's anger-release therapy, and everyone else chips exactly as needed.When Bill Pullman drives up in a Gremlin and robs Judge Reinhold, who is in the middle of a ransom grab AND wearing a clown mask, I actually had to pause the tape and just laugh for ten solid minutes. That whole exchange is probably still in my top five comedy scenes of all time, and I haven't seen it in years.I'd recommend this sharp, wicked comedy to anyone, especially those who believe people's actions are governed by lust and avarice. Almost every joke here works, but more than that, the film's entire attitude will make you laugh. Any movie that salutes people's obsession with crotches is OK with me.

A great movie, with non-stop hilarity!

Sam Stone (played by Danny DeVito), millionaire women's clothing mogul, is tired of his fat, irritating wife Barbara (Bette Midler), and is ready to murder her. But, when he finds out that she has been kidnapped, and will be murdered if anything goes wrong, all of his dreams have come true. Ken Kessler (Judge Rienhold) and his wife Sandy (Helen Slater) were ripped off by Sam, and figure that by kidnapping Barbara, and getting Sam's money that they would be even, but they wouldn't hurt a fly. Sam's mistress Carol (Anita Morris) has a boy toy of her own and wants to get her hands on Sam's money. Also, there's a cold-blooded murderer stalking L.A. and he could be anywhere. Oh oh, this could get complicated...and hilarious!

This is a great movie! Created by Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker, this offbeat movie is just as funny as their other hits, Airplane and The Naked Gun, but has a more solid storyline. I loved the characters and the non-stop hilarity, and have watched this movie many times over the years.

Now, I must mention that this movie is rated R for a reason. There are numerous "adult" scenes (though no nudity) and a good deal of swearing. So, if you are going to watch this movie with the whole family, you'll have to stand by the fast forward button.

But, that said this is a great movie, with non-stop hilarity! If you are looking for a side-splitting movie, then look no further. Buy this movie!

So-so...

I loved, loved, LOVED this movie when I saw it as a teenager and occasionally wondered why it had fallen off the face of the earth since. Having watched it again recently I realized why: it's not very good. Yes, there are many very funny lines and situations, some that will have you chortling for days. Frankly, just one look at the Stone mansion will be enough to set most people off. It also helps that the actors are uniformly good, with special marks going to Bette Midler and Danny DeVito for having the time of their lives playing such revolting caricature's. You can feel the actors desire to take the movie much further, especially DeVito, who's almost chortling with glee at how filthy and lowbrow he gets to be as Sam Stone. (The wrong number scene? Priceless.) And that's the problem with the movie. The directors put quotation marks around the gags, spacing them out one-at-a-time like on an assembly line, so you won't miss any. This approach works well when they're making a spoof like Flying High but with a straight comedy it boxes the actors in. The movie works better when you're thinking about it afterwards than when you're actually watching it. Some of the supporting characters are too straightforward when they could have used a bit of a twist. Frankly, Ruthless People could have done with a bit more sleaze and a slightly wilder plot (I'd love to see a remake by the team behind Bad Santa) but it's definitely work a look.

A COMEDY ABOUT "RUTHLESS PEOPLE"

A comedy with the creators of AIRPLANE! & Naked Gun!
A MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!A Movie w/ the best cast!!!!!!

Great movie, great cast!

Excellent comedy with a perfect cast. I especially liked Helen Slaters performance. Though Middler and DeVito were great too (as usual).

Great comedy!

Bette Midler, Danny DeVito, Judge Reinhold
and Helen Slater all mixed and matched
perfectly in this film about one loud and
obnoxious woman. Hilarious in its
implementation, the way the lives of the
characters unfold in a funny and unpredictable
manner. If you haven't seen this classic
comedy, then get a whiff of this film, just to
see the genius of DeVito and Midler in their
primes. While the humor may be a little
dated, it still offers some fairly clean fun
for all to enjoy.

THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one genius of a movie. It is hysterical. There isn't ONE dull moment in it. And everybody in it was so great. Danny DeVito was superb as the money hungry tycoon, Sam Stone. Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater bounced off each other perfectly. Bette Midler is always sensational. And you can't forget Anita Morris and Bill Pullman. I love when Judge Reinhold gets hit in the face with a can (God, that hurts!). And who could forget him dressed up as a clown! Bill Pullman was "the stupidest person on the face of the earth." I wont give any more of this film away, for those of you who haven't seen it. But let me assure you, if you haven't seen it, you are in for a HUGE SURPRISE!! This is what every comedy should be like. "You don't die right away. You kinda just...hang on."

CULT CULT CULT

Outstading movie and one of the best comedies ever. I mean, how many stupid scenes can you put in a movie? They are endless. In a way every character has something that makes them special to the viewer. Of course my favorite star is BETTE MIDLER. So many cult moments like these are impossible to imitate: right from the moment we (don't) see Bette in a potato bag kicking and screaming with the entrance of the VW van (personally the entrance itself makes me already laugh) and the two kidnappers hardly take her in the basement...where she falls right into. What happens next is so hilarious. When she escapes and is trapped in the kitchen is unbelievable, like a parody of the kitchen scene in 'Torn Curtain': how can you be any stupider than him? Using the tissue he just put chloroform on to ease the pain Bette justinflicted him with with a flying cup! . It's over the top. Also Incredibly stupid and funny is Anita Morris ("Have you seen THAT TAPE? ),, such misunderstadings are impossible. Another's when Danny DeVito, after receiving the tape, calls Morris at once and tells her he knows she sent it>>> YOU MUST WATCH IT! R Rating understandable, but isn't it a little bit ridiculous?

Very Funny, Possibly Danny DeVito's best!

If you like a silly comedy then you will love ruthless people. This movie is about a wife(Bette Milder) getting kidnapped and her husband(Danny DeVito) not wanting to pay the ransom. The kidnappers treat Bette Milder so good that she loses 20 punds and even has her own tv. Danny DeVito pops the champagne and and sheds tears(of joy). The kidnappers lower the ransom from $500,000 to $10,000. It's a nice light comedy. My dad and I call it the "Headache Cure"

Great FUN!!!

This movie wasn't a masterpiece or anything. However, it was just simply great fun! Danny DeVito with all his comedic talent really carried this film. Also, all the other cast members contributed well by playing their roles all fittingly. If you need a laugh, definitely pick up this movie!

One of the Funniest Comedies of Errors I Have Ever Seen (and Re-Seen)

The executive of the clothing industry Sam Stone (Danny DeVito) tells his mistress Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris) that he can not bear his wealthy wife Barbara (Bette Midler) anymore and that he is going to kill her. When Sam arrives at his mansion in Bel-Air with chloroform, he does not finds Barbara; sooner he receives a phone call telling that Barbara has been kidnapped and asking a five hundred thousand dollar ransom. Further, he is warned that he should not call the press or the police, otherwise Barbara would be murdered. However, forty-five minutes later, his house is surrounded by the police and the press and Sam is celebrating the abduction in his room, without any intention of paying the ransom and expecting that the kidnappers kill Barbara for him. Meanwhile, the clumsy and inexperienced kidnappers Ken Kessler (Judge Reinhold) and his wife and stylist Sandy (Helen Slater) have been lured in a business with Sam in the past, when he stole a design of Sandy an raised a fortune, and they are actually seeking a financial compensation for their loss; however they are having difficulties to handle with Barbara in the basement of their lower medium-class house. When Carol asks her stupid lover Earl Mott (Bill Pullman) to make a videotape of Sam killing Barbara, Earl commits a mistake and records the Chief of Police Henry Benton (William G. Schilling) having kinky and noise sex with a prostitute in his car instead. Carol decides to blackmail Sam with the tape believing he killed Barbara, and she sends a copy to Benton to press him to arrest Sam. Ken reduces the ransom to ten thousand dollars, but Sam refuses to pay while Barbara loses twenty pounds working out while imprisoned and befriends Sandy. When Barbara discovers the intentions of Sam, she decides to help the young couple to take Sam's money."Ruthless People" is one of the funniest comedies of errors I have ever seen and re-seen. The plot is excellent, supported by a magnificent screenplay and wonderful performances highlighting Bette Midler and Danny DeVito). Bill Pullman in the beginning of his career is recognizable performing a tacky and stupid character. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Por Favor Matem a Minha Mulher" ("Please Kill My Wife")

RUTHLESSLY FUNNY

The AZA express (the Airplane/Naked Gun) team was in full force in this uproarious comedy from the eighties. There are so many hilarious scenes, and the cast performs them with slapstick gusto. Aside from the leading roles helmed by Danny DeVito and Bette Midler, we get great support from Bill Pullman("possibly the most stupid person on earth"); Anita Morris as DeVito's sexy mistress; William B. Schilling as the athletic chief of police; lovely Helen Slater as one of the kidnappers; and even Judge Reinhold (whom I've never really liked that much) is fine as the inept kidnapper. Midler's raving and ranting is worth the price of the movie. A trendsetting comedy, RUTHLESS PEOPLE should leave you in stitches.

God, I miss the 1980s!

I love the 1980s. It was a great decade. This movie is clearly a great comedy with an all star cast featuring Divine Bette Midler as the kidnapped heiress Barbara Stone who we hate at first because she is one of the nastiest people alive at first down in the basement. She thinks her husband played by the multi-talented Danny DeVito, Sam Stone, has no interest in getting his wife back. In fact, the kidnapping was a big relief at first since he wanted to kill her. His mistress is played beautifully by Anita Morris. The kidnappers are a nice couple played by Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater. When you feel sorry for the kidnapper over the victim, then you have a hit comedy? IT's filmed in Los Angeles. Ken Kessler is a guy who can't sell retail stereo equipment like most successful sellers. He doesn't have the conscience to sell overpriced equipment to a young struggling couple. He is one of the salesman that you would like-honest and reasonable. His partner SAndy Kessler is an aspiring fashion designer whose idea was stolen by Sam Stone who makes a fortune by robbing the designer. Anyway, it's a great comedy.

A classic 80's movie!

I was a big fan of Helen Slater's ever since "Supergirl," and so I decided to rent this movie! Throughout the whole movie, I was laughing my guts out! All of the cast members including lovely Slater (who's one of the shiest excuse of a kidnapper you could ever ask for) are a great stand-out! I'd like to own this movie someday if it comes out on DVD! I now declare it as one of my all-time favorite movies! I mean these people are so ruthless and wacky you can't help but laugh constantly throughout the whole movie!

A wickedly funny romp with some ruthless and wanna-be ruthless people

Ruthless People is a brilliant 1980's comedy that is still entirely enjoyable two decades later (just enjoy the posh interior decorating schemes, full of triangles of random colors!). Don't read the convoluted plot synopsis provided by Amazon. The basics are this: Danny Devito's millionaire character (he's a fashion designer called the Spandex Mini Skirt King) wants to murder his harping, overweight, annoying wife, played by Bette Midler. Fortunately for him, on the day he plans to take her out, Judge Reinhold and his wife kidnap Midler's character to get ransom and to get back at Devito for stealing their fashion ideas. Great! Now all Devito has to do is refuse to pay the ransom and go against all the kidnappers' demands, and his little problem will be solved! It's not so simple, and the plot turns crazy from that point, with some crosses and double-crosses, extortion of the chief of police, dumb boy-toy boyfriends, adulterous affairs, disturbed neighborhood serial killers, and clown suits.

The cast in this movie is amazing. Midler stands out the most, as a woman who goes through a metaphorphasis during her kidnapping. Reinhold is the perfect balance of a genuinely nice guy who wants so hard to be a ruthless criminal. Devito is pure slime, though and through. Also, Bill Pullman is a supreme foolish blond boy-toy, possibly "the stupidest man in the world."

Don't miss out on this 1980's classic that is currently being offered at a terrific price.

O. Henry Revisited

Think " The Ransom Of Red Chief " and then time warp to the glitzy 80's. A sleazoid husband and a spoiled, tacky, self indulged wife are the pivotal characters in this very funny farce. Throw in the requisite mistress and a few other characters who wander between confusin and total befuddlement and you have the makings for a laugh-out-loud fun fest. Midler and Devito are a matched set and a wonder to watch. Highly recommended for madcap viewing.

Bette gets kidnapped!

Danny DeVito plays a husband whose wife gets kidnapped by two bungling thieves who run into a problem when DeVito refuses to pay the ransom. Soon the kidnappers are begging to be rid of Bette! Some hilarious bits in this excellent comedy on a scale of one to ten...8