My Blue Heaven (I) (1990)

An all too uptight FBI agent must protect a larger than life mobster with a heart of gold, currently under witness protection in the suburbs.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Nora Ephron

Stars:

Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli
Rick Moranis	...	Barney Coopersmith
Joan Cusack	...	Hannah Stubbs
Melanie Mayron	...	Crystal Rybak
Bill Irwin	...	Kirby (as William Irwin)
Carol Kane	...	Shaldeen
William Hickey	...	Billy Sparrow
Deborah Rush	...	Linda
Daniel Stern	...	Will Stubbs
Jesse Bradford	...	Jamie
Corey Carrier	...	Tommie
Seth Jaffe	...	Umberto Mello
Robert Miranda	...	Lilo Mello
Ed Lauter	...	Underwood
Julie Bovasso	...	Vinnie's Mother

Storyline

FBI agent Barney Coopersmith is assigned to protect former Mafia figure turned informant Vincent Antonelli. In the witness protection program one is supposed to keep a low profile, but that is something that Antonelli has trouble doing. Coopersmith certainly has his hands full keeping Antonelli away from the Mafia hitmen who want to stop him testifying, not to mention the nightclubs...

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Plot Keywords:

fbi agent | agent | protection | mafia | witness protection | 

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Taglines:

A comedy about a government witness who gives suburbia a culture shock.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meu Pequeno Paraíso

Filming Locations:

Atascadero, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$23,591,472 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hawn / Sylbert Movie Company, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, Steve Martin was cast to play Barney Coopersmith, with Arnold Schwarzenegger playing the role of Vinnie Antonelli. However, Schwarzenegger was soon thereafter offered the role of Det. John Kimble in Kindergarten Cop, and left the production. Failing to find another suitable "Vinnie" for Martin's Coopersmith, Martin offered to take on the role of Vinnie himself. Producers agreed, and then cast Rick Moranis as Coopersmith, who had originally been considered for the role, but was unavailable until then.

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Goofs

After Vinnie marries Shaldeen in Reno, he is talking on the phone with Barney - and then puts Shaldeen on the phone to speak with Barney. When they're done, Barney asks Shaldeen to put "Vinnie" back on the phone. Shaldeen knows him as "Todd" not "Vinnie."

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Quotes

Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli: Two double scotches please.
Stewardess #1: I'm sorry we can only serve two drinks at a time. Two double scotches would be four drinks.
Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli: OK how about this? You sell me my double scotch, and you sell my friend his double scotch, but instead of putting his double scotch on his tray, you put it on mine and I'll pay you for both. By the way have I told you that you look lovely in red and blue... Pam.
Stewardess #1: Ok, fine. Here you go.
Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli: Keep the change.
Stewardess #1: Oh, we're not allowed to accept tips.
Vincent 'Vinnie' Antonelli: [Turns to Barney] Not allowed to accept...

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Connections

References White Hunter Black Heart (1990)

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Soundtracks

"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)"
Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland (as Eddy Holland)
Performed by Billy Hill
Published by Stone Agate Music
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Recapturing a good memory

I saw this movie not long after its release in August,1990. It was a rather important and memorable part of my young life:I was getting ready to move off to college(among other things)and was needing a little distraction. Since I fancied myself as a Steve MArtin fanatic(still kinda do),I felt like I HAD to see this. While I would've never--not then,probably not now,either--thought this to be anything of great work,it's still a blissfully wonderful comedy.

You might be able to take Vincent "Vinnie" Antonelli(Steve Martin,full-tilt commitment to the role)out of organized crime and the big city,but you cannot take the organized crime or big city out of Vinnie,as he frequently goes astray of the law in his witness relocation in a quiet desert community outside of San Diego. The fed assigned him Barney Coopersmith(Rick Moranis,mensch)seems to be woefully unable to keep a leash on his charge,but it's alright because while Vinnie may not sit still in protective custody,he's got a big heart for those around him keeping him out of prison. Naturally,while Vinnie may not be always above board about his actions,he's still pretty good on his word and intentions.

Easy,breezy comedy directed by the late Herbert Ross and penned by Nora Ephron(who seems to be a much better screenwriter than director),it's a film that is as light as air on a subject not normally broached in this manner(even Analyze This! and its sequel,Analyze That! still had a somewhat heavy air in them,albeit still largely tongue-in-cheek). Credit the deft and intentional script and the intensely likable interplay between Martin and Moranis(not to mention the potential love relationship/tension brought on by Joan Cusack as a divorced mom and zealous local DA)for this fact.

I saw this again recently having bought this on a "Two-fer" disc that was paired with The Man With Two Brains. While I bought the disc primarily to watch THAT film,this add-on was not only a good re-watch(or even,come to think about it,re-re-watch)but brought back a long,pleasant memory or two of film-going.