The Super ** (1991, Joe Pesci, Vincent Gardenia, Madolyn Smith Osborne) – Classic Movie Review 10,021

Director Rod Daniel’s 1991 The Super is a hesitant comedy with a good premise, some solid laughs and a fine Joe Pesci performance as an unscrupulous New York slum landlord, Louie Kritski, who is ordered by the courts to move into one of his own flats for 120 days as a punishment for ignoring all the housing regulations.

Director Daniel, saddled with a misfiring script by Sam Simon, drives the tone into screwball and then schmaltz, when what is wanted is dark wit and biting satire.

In a commanding turn, Pesci, who brings edge (though not necessarily subtlety) to every performance, just about saves it. Vincent Gardenia is also good value in his final film as Pesci’s dad, Big Lou Kritski (Gardenia died of a heart attack on 9 December 1992, aged 72).

After taking only $11 million in the US (it cost $22 million), it went straight-to-video in the UK.

Also in the cast are Madolyn Smith Osborne, Rubén Blades, Stacey Travis, Carole Shelley, Kenn Michael [Kenny Blank], Paul Benjamin, Beatrice Winde, Bhubeshi Bodibe, Abdoulaye NGom, Carol Jean Lewis, Anthony Heald, Daniel Baltzman and Jack Hallett.

Pesci has the same line he has in the 1990 GoodFellas: ‘What am I a mirage?’

Pesci enjoys top billing for the first time.

The Super is directed by Rod Daniel, runs 84 minutes, is made by Largo Entertainment, JVC Entertainment Networks and Twentieth Century Fox, is released by Twentieth Century Fox (1991) (US) and Fox Video (1993) (UK), is written by Sam Simon, is shot by Bruce Surtees, is produced by Charles Gordon, is scored by Miles Goodman and is designed by Kristi Zea.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,021

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