NATIONAL LAMPOON'S THE DON'S ANALYST (1997) ** There's something funny about minor to mid-range psychological problems. Membership in and the activities of the mafia probably fall somewhere in this category, so a comedy about a mob shrink is fertile ground. Unfortunately the writers can't access enough seed to plant an entire film, so after a great 20 minute start things get dull, acceptable in educational film but not appealing in a comedy. Robert Loggia is really good as the Don who goes nuts and so wants to go straight and Angie Dickinson has great presence (and horrible execution) as his wandering wife who takes up with his mob competitor Don. The elegance and (lack of) education of mobsters are evident and played upon nicely and not without a special irony, but comedies are best when funny. Jaguars are shot nicely, so perhaps the film works best as a car commercial.
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