Easy Money (1983) User Reviews

One of Rodney's best

[caspian1978 · 7/10 · 11 January 2002]

It's not everyday where you get to watch a good comedy starring Joe Pesci. No one cares now, but when Rodney decides to join the big comedy club up in the sky above, Easy Money will be broadcast on every comedy network from Maine to San Diego. Second to only Caddy Shack, Easy Money is Rodney's best and most loved film roles as the guy who never gets any respect. A wonderful story with a wonderful arrangement of characters including Rodney and Pesci. Overall, Rodney makes the film come together with his comic genius.

easily skip-able, but still good for some laughs

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 20 April 2006]

I am not a huge fan of this film, but I've got to admit that it will most likely make you laugh. It's extremely low-brow and has a lot of cheap laughs, but sometimes a movie like this is exactly what you might need. In other words, nothing deep or requiring your full attention--just a silly movie. To me, this movie is nearly as funny as Dangerfield's follow-up film, BACK TO SCHOOL and both are fun time-passers.

The plot, such as it is, is really just an excuse to watch Rodney tell a lot of dopey jokes and get in stupid situations. He is ably assisted by a pre-mafia days Joe Pesci--an amiable friend who tries to keep Rodney from losing the money left to him by his battleaxe mother-in-law in her will--provided he STOP drinking, gambling and lose weight. The end is particularly satisfying and it's a fun romp.

Rodney Dangerfield makes me happy

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 8 May 2016]

Monty Capuletti (Rodney Dangerfield) drinks too much, smokes too much, and gambles too much. He carouses with Nicky Cerone (Joe Pesci) and Paddy (Tom Noonan). His wife Rose (Candy Azzara) loves him but his ruthless widower mother-in-law Mrs. Monahan (Geraldine Fitzgerald) hates the baby photographer lacking ambition. She owns a department store and Clive Barlow (Jeffrey Jones) is her assistant. Monty's daughter Allison (Jennifer Jason Leigh) marries Julio (Taylor Negron) but she runs home after her failed wedding night. When his mother-in-law dies, Monty inherits most of the $10 million estate but only after a year of clean living. If he fails, Barlow gets it.

Rodney Dangerfield makes me happy. He is utterly lovable. He makes this funny. I don't know if it would work with anybody else. I also like the side story with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Taylor Negron. The great thing here is Dangerfield as the lovable schlub and the audience roots for him. I would like a denser level of laughs but this one keep me smiling throughout.

Ya gotta love Rodney

[[e-mail] · 4 November 2002]

One of my favorite movie lines is, "Can I call you dad?"

Caddyshack was described as "slob humor," and this exercise in vulgarity is a double-guilty pleasure.

There are excellent gags-- Rodney flying into the Christmas tree, Rodney flipping channels past The Lost Weekend-- and good supporting performances. Joe Pesci clipping his underarm hair says it all.

And, underneath all of the roughneck recklessness, there's a pretty well written movie.

Thanks, Rodney.

Easy guilty pleasure

[skad13 · 7/10 · 14 August 1999]

Truly one of the guilty-pleasure comedies of all time. Dangerfield's performance is pre-Neanderthal, the music is cartoonish, Joe Pesci perfects his irritating macho act here, and the script seems to have been cribbed from a men's-room wall--and still I found it hysterical. Plus, there's a great brief cameo from Kimberly McArthur (as a friendly neighbor) that amply demonstrates why she was a PLAYBOY Playmate of the Year

Put your money on this one! With Rodney in the game you can't lose!

[mattymatt4ever · 7/10 · 21 April 2001]

"Easy Money" has many hilarious moments, due to Rodney's comic genius. He remains one of my personal heroes and my favorite comic of all time. He makes me laugh like no other. If you love Rodney's one-liners, you're bound to have a ball with this movie! It's hard to choose a favorite.

The plot is noticeably a mere setup for one wacky situation after another, and doesn't seem to move naturally. But hey, Rodney said it in his interview with Jay Leno, "When you're writing a movie, you don't have to do it like you're writing 'Gone with the Wind.'" That's not always true, but with Rodney's humor to save the day there is no fear.

Also, if you're a Joe Pesci fan--like me--this would be a good movie to check out. Pesci delivers a fine early performance as Rodney's buddy. Taylor Negron was also amusing--like always--as Jennifer Jason Leigh's husband-to-be. I also have to give credit to Billy Joel for a fine title song. I sing that song in the showers a lot, it's one of my favorites.

If you love Rodney--like everybody in the universe--this movie will not fail. You'll laugh your head off!

My score: 7 (out of 10)

Has it moments..

[Boyo-2 · 5/10 · 19 February 2002]

..but overall, not much going on.

One idea stretched over a ninety minute movie is a hit-and-miss prospect at best.

Rodney is a loving husband and father but is hated by his mother-in-law (wow - that's never been done!) for his drinking, drugging and low-paying job. His daughter, Jennifer Jason Leigh, is marrying a Hispanic (Taylor Negron) and his best friend, Joe Pesci, doesn't do much other than be The Best Friend.

The movie has some genuinely funny moments. Rodney gets off some great lines, usually at the expense of others, but he's very funny when the material is good. Pesci has his moments, too.

The wedding/honeymoon between Leigh and Negron goes on for too long and is very flat. I usually enjoy Negron, well I did in "Punchline" and "Angels in the Outfield" but he's among the problems in this one.

"Back to School" was much better. 4/10.

Rodney Dangerfield at his best!

[kirstymd · 9/10 · 25 January 2005]

Classic Rodney... expanding on the work he did in 'Caddyshack' as well as his own stand-up routine persona. He's crass, crude, and just plain hilarious. The whole joke of the movie is trying to force him to NOT be himself in order to earn the "easy money" his wife's mother has left in her will if he can straighten himself out. It's not just in watching him be "Rodney On the Loose", but also getting to see what happens when he's forced to stop being, well, Rodney. Even then, he's still Rodney, and maybe even more hilarious.

In this movie he has a supporting cast that's up to the job: Joe Pesci as his over-the-top best friend, Jennifer Jason Leigh as his newlywed daughter to a hilarious Taylor Negron, Candace Azzara as is fed-up wife. The scenes between Allison and Julio are classic line merits alone, without Rodney. The exercise bike into the Christmas tree is PERFECT Rodney.

And you will never ever walk away from this film being able to just "browse" around a dept. store again; nor will you resist wanting to go for your own "Regular Guy" look.

My sister and I have watched this movie maybe 50+ times since it originally appeared on HBO, and we still quote lines back and forth. "Caddyshack" we laughed until we cried; "Back to School" we chuckled. It was this movie that we still watch and go into fits over, reciting lines, because it is classic Rodney at is best. Not set to the side just to bring on a chuckle or two, not given some over-sentimentalized junk, but just the guy we watched doing stand-up late at night when we were probably supposed to be in bed.

Thank you Rodney from me and my sister!

Easy to watch Dangerfield comedy

[intelearts · 6/10 · 15 February 2009]

While this is what it is, gags galore, low-brow, and funny stuff, Easy Money never quite hits the best of Dangerfield.

Too many gaps between the one liners and some situations are just fillers, but otherwise all in all watchable and enjoyable.

The plot is a good one, very very rich mother-in-law dies leaving all her money to the booze hound Dangerfield on the condition he straightens and flies right for a whole year. I just wish they could have got to the main plot sooner.

Kind of like Brewster's Millions there are chuckles to be had, and anyway it's Rodney so you know what you're getting.

All in all, an OK pizza and beer movie; nothing challenging, but nothing side-splitting either...

Low Brow Humor.

[AaronCapenBanner · 2/10 · 3 September 2013]

Rodney Dangerfield plays Monty Capuletti, a baby photographer(!) who finds himself under a lot of pressure between his daughter's(Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding, future in-laws, and meddlesome mother-in-law, who dies, but makes a provision in her will that Monty must reform his bad habits, or inherit none of her fortune. Film then details his efforts at doing so, and the "help" from his pal, played by Joe Pesci.

Rodney is a funny, self-mocking comedian, but his character(and film itself) is thoroughly unappealing, and his antics rarely funny. Double-twist ending may come as a surprise, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good thing! Stick with "Caddyshack" instead.

Rodney Dangerfield is the best stand up comic ever!

[the_great · 9/10 · 18 August 2006]

I rarely watch a movie more than twice, but this one I've watched four times since I bought the DVD. I just want to hear the theme song one more time - and end up watching the whole movie!

The story is very good, both funny and thought provoking. There's not a dull moment. Even the scenes with Monty's daughter and Julio, which at first seem a little unnecessary, make sense at the end (SPOILERS!) when Julio accidentally shoots Monty in the a**. If this isn't Rodney Dangerfield's greatest film, I don't know what is. It's the best that I have seen, and I have seen a lot of good ones: Caddyshack, Back to school and Meet Wally Sparks. Little Nicky with Adam Sandler is horrible, avoid it like plague... Speaking of - Joe Pesci as Rodney / Monty's pal Nicky does one of his best comedic performances as well. The scene where he shows Monty how easy it is to control smoking is hilarious.

At the risk of sounding a little naive (like Monty's pal Paddy, when he tries to pick up the stripper by asking her to meet his parents), I have to say I was a little disappointed (SPOILERS!) at the lack of moral the end of the story provided. Therefore - 9/10.

Easy watch of lesser laughs

[videorama-759-859391 · 7/10 · 20 December 2018]

Easy Money isn't as funny as Lady Bugs and Meet Wally Sparks, particularly, or to a lesser extent. Back To School. Even Rodney doesn't slip enough of his own jokes in, and it's truly relief when he does here. This movie boasts some well known A lister's, and I always felt Joe Pesci was wasted in this. Jennifer Jason Leigh is beautiful, and Taylor Negron, the scene stealer of this piece is a hoot, a small saving grace, while Rodney is just Rodney. His little daughter is the other great performer, while Azzara, as his wife, puts in a strong performance. Basically the premise has our bulging Rodney, having to cut out all his vices, and we pretty much know what they are, even to someone who hasn't seen the film, in order to claim this inheritance from his nagging mother in law, who's just carked it. His friends are no help whatsoever, and we must watch our poor Rodney suffer painfully. One of the film's funniest scenes is in the last five minutes, with Rodney, after accidentally getting shot in the buttock. Nevertheless, Easy Money is still very entertaining, and we do sympathize with our poor Rodney. Don't expect a consistent wave of laughs with this film. You won't get one.

Easy Money, Difficult Watch

[view_and_review · 3/10 · 28 December 2019]

To me, Rodney Dangerfield is like most medicine, he can only be taken in small doses. Once I think, "You know what, this wasn't that bad, I could use some more," then I'm in the hospital getting my stomach pumped. Needless to say, I didn't finish the movie. Rodney is not totally repulsive, it's just that his act wears on my nerves after the fifth or sixth thousandth "You know."

Classic 80's Comedy

[AndyO · 28 August 1999]

If you are a big fan of Rodney's this is the movie to see! A lot of funny one liners. His comic timing is perfect.

A perfect guide to how men should behave! Also watch "Back to School"

Dangerfield + Pesci = YES PLEASE

[lakishaferguson21 · 7/10 · 20 April 2020]

While flipping thru channels saw this on HBO. Rodney is one of my favorite comedies, probably of all time. Joe Pesci has made me laugh since Throw Mama from the Train! There were countless funny scenes; my favorites: Pesci attacking a jockey, the mail carrier's mail flying away, the rent-a-tux tag from the wedding, Pesci's curbside diner parking. However my favorite scene was the 2 leads driving around looking for food. They go to one diner, sign on door tells them to go elsewhere. They go to the other diner, sign says the owner died. Lastly they see a lit diner, Salvation! Nope it's a 23 hour diner, lights go off as soon as they reach for the door! Loved it!! Is this the highlight of either career, no, but it certainly adds to their comedic resumes. My only issues included the daughter's sub plot (seemed necessary) and did the Capuletti's get their money?

Easy hearing (web)

[leplatypus · 7/10 · 12 November 2017]

I like how movies can sometimes parallel my own life: this movie is about a head of family compelled to change his daily life to be rich while from this week, I try also to change my bad habits to gain more audition. So as the expected addiction movies, we have the necessary up and down moments of rehabilitation but strangely, this plot comes late in the movie: before that, we have his fun (loose) life with friends exposed and the wedding of his prude daughter played by Jenny. In a whole, the movie is a bit disjointed but what a fun it is! I discover this Rodney with Caddyshack in which he was really crazy and here, he repeats the same flair for fun: it's cool to have a comedy man with such physical presence and sharp humor because there are no more like them in today American movies! He is a sort of Al Bundy on screen with the difference that his family is much more educated and serious and each family member has something (funny) to do. At last, the movie has a great nostalgic value: we see a lot of talented names in their young (Jenny, great Joe Pesci, slim Jeffrey Jones) and this 80s America was indeed a cool place to live! So you got working family + life in NYC borough + laughs all along the movie so I can't imagine how you could be disappointed ???

Rodney's fans will like it

[MovieAddict2016 · 6/10 · 1 July 2006]

This was really the first true Rodney Dangerfield vehicle. It was clearly written with Rodney in mind, or at least edited to fit him after he signed on. As a result, a lot of scenes go nowhere and seem completely random - they're just showcases for some of that famous Rodney Humor. If another actor were cast in the role, the movie would be terrible because the flaws would be outstanding. But when it's Rodney, it all seems to fall into place.

The plot involves Rodney's mother-in-law dying and leaving him her fortunes in her will - but only if he cleans up his act first. He has to stop smoking, drinking, doing drugs, and must begin eating healthier.

Of course, this can't hold up an entire movie, so the first 35 minutes or so has nothing to do with the rest of the plot. It shows Rodney at home, it shows him hanging out with Joe Pesci, gambling, going to a strip club, etc. Then there is a really bizarre subplot involving his daughter's wedding that contains one long, rambling scene (without Rodney, surprisingly) that goes nowhere.

However, Rodney fans will find his typical humor here to enjoy. It may not be as coherent as "Back to School" but it is still a fine showcase for his comedic talents and reveals why Rodney Dangerfield was one of the best comedians of all-time, regardless of how bad the movies he starred in usually were.

Skip it

[youaresquishy · 1/10 · 6 February 2006]

I hated this flick.

Rodney Dangerfield makes me laugh often, but not in this film. Even in the few lines he had that were actually funny, for reasons relating to the obviously poor directing, those lines sort of fell flat.

And that's the story of this film--poor directing. This film comes off as the work of an amateur. And it is no wonder--this was James Signorelli's first major film-directing project. And, except for the unfortunate Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, it was also his last.

Joe Pesci seems very out of place--probably a casting error. He just seemed to be playing the wrong character altogether. Maybe this is just a part of the poor directing, but he seemed like he wasn't at all interested in putting in a good performance.

The film has an overall tone that is way way way too serious for a comedy--a clear indication of an amateur comedy-director. I would classify it as a drama, actually, if I were forced to classify it. Yet the plot is very hard to believe in, and it would've been so even if this had been filmed more as a really over-the-top comedy--just completely ridiculous.

Of course, my first viewing comes in 2006. Obviously, I may have given it a 2 instead of a 1 had I seen it in the 80's.

You can safely skip this one, even if you are a big Rodney Dangerfield fan. If you need to see a movie with Dangerfield in it, I'd recommend Caddyshack and Back to School, or just any of them other than this one.

Watch this during "must see TV"

[Satch-2 · 9/10 · 17 February 1999]

Forget about those hyped up banal TV shows, and rent yourself a copy of this film. It features Rodney Dangerfield at or around his acting pinnacle, as well as some early entertaining performances by Joe Pesci and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Damn funny stuff from the beginning. Suffer along with Monty as he is forced to give up most all the things in life he holds dear, so as to satisfy the requirements of his mother-in-law's will. Some highly memorable situations and one-liners will serve as the basis of much reference material for fellow fans.

Good 80's Comedy

[gwnightscream · 6/10 · 7 February 2021]

Rodney Dangerfield and Joe Pesci star in this 1983 comedy. Dangerfield (Caddyshack, Back to School) plays Monty, a family man who likes to gamble, eat, smoke and drink with his friend, Nicky (Pesci). Soon, Monty tries to prove himself when he's challenged by his late, mother-in-law to drop his bad habits in one year to inherit her estate. Monty learns that money doesn't always come easy. Jeffrey Jones (Beetlejuice), Tom Noonan (Manhunter), Jennifer Jason Leigh and her "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" co-star, Taylor Negron are also featured. This is a good 80's comedy that's definitely one of Rodney's best.

Rodney goes without

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 24 June 2017]

Rodney Dangerfield made his name in low brow slobbish roles. In Easy Money he plays Monty Capuletti, a kids photographer in New York. He is a working class guy who likes to eat junk food, drink, visit strip clubs, smoking dope and gamble with his friends which includes Joe Pesci and Tom Noonan.

His mother in law, Geraldine Fitzgerald is actually a wealthy woman who owns a high end department store and she hates Monty with a passion. When she dies, she stipulates in her will that if Monty is able to give up his vices for a year, by eating good food, giving up drugs and gambling, he will receive $10 million. If he cannot, his family will get nothing and her scheming nephew Jeffrey Jones will inherit everything.

The film is a bit hit and miss but is sporadically amusing. It feels rather underpowered maybe because you feel both Pesci and Noonan are underused. The film has a good theme song by Billy Joel.

The subplot of Monty's daughter marrying a Puerto Rican and then is reluctant to loser her virginity to him comes across as clunky.

Still Dangerfield reduxed the bare bones of the story a few years later and called it Back to School.

Rodney and Joe Pesci Rule the screen!

[BigfootNY · 10/10 · 21 December 2004]

The funniest film I have ever seen (29 viewings and counting)! Rodney's overall lifestyle as a married with two daughters Staten Island baby photographer who happens to drink, gamble, go to strip bars and get late night diner food with his best pal Nicky Marino (played by Oscar winner Joe Pesci), is unlike anything I've seen before and since. His struggles to live without his vices in order to collect the "easy money" are hilarious and include dealing with his daughter's slimy Puerto Rican boyfriend Julio and having to photograph a bratty child while still going through withdrawal. Pesci is a cross between his Good Fellas and Lethal Weapon 2 characters and has never been funnier.

This is a companion film for anyone who liked Caddyshack.

Sleazy Money

[TheFearmakers · 6/10 · 16 March 2024]

Hands down the best scene of EASY MONEY has Rodney Dangerfield insulting a fat kid and his family... where he seems like characters from superior flanking films CADDYSHACK and BACK TO SCHOOL, spouting quick barbs that roll right off the iconic comic's tongue...

Which rarely happens here since Rodney's stuck in a movie with a limited and constricting plot-line: he has to quit all his vices, from gambling to smoking pot to drinking to overeating, to become as rich as his previous characters in those aforementioned classics...

But there aren't that many effective one-liners (Joe Pesci laughs so hard at a few decent ones, he steals the audience's laughter); and funny insults are what cinematic Dangerfield is all about...

Meanwhile, the b-story involving daughter Jennifer Jason Leigh avoiding sex with new husband Taylor Negron is not only horribly unfunny, but their scenes drag far too long...

Getting in the way of a comedy that's more entertaining than funny... not a bad thing, but it's far from top-shelf Dangerfield, who seems to be going through the motions, smoking pot and drinking beer more like a crude fan than what he himself can effectively (and hilariously) channel on the big screen.

Easy Money (1983)

[fntstcplnt · 5/10 · 5 October 2019]

Directed by James Signorelli. Starring Rodney Dangerfield, Joe Pesci, Candy Azzara, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Taylor Negron, Tom Noonan, Lili Haydn, Tom Ewell, Val Avery. (R)

Hard-living slob Dangerfield stands to inherit a fortune from his deceased mother-in-law (Fitzgerald), but only if he rids himself of all vices (drinking, smoking, eating, gambling, etc.) for one year. High-concept comedy premise is rife with possibilities, but rather than milking it for loads of laughs, the unfocused storyline is padded with aimless filler and there's very little comic energy to push the audience along; the movie is almost halfway over before the inheritance challenge is even issued, and the entire side episode with Dangerfield's daughter (Leigh) and her newlywed spouse (Negron) is D.O.A. Dangerfield, however, gets in a handful of quality one-liners (and can mug/react to the camera like a pro), and Pesci is sometimes funny as his pugnacious pal; together, they make this a passable watch.

50/100