User reviews

I'm surprised I never heard of this before. It had some really funny moments. The attack goats cracked me up.

Jim Abrahams, the director of "Jane Austen's Mafia", is a man that knows a thing, or two, about what to give the public as he has already shown in his acerbic satires. This one, came without any warning the other night and frankly, either we were in a giddy mood, or we were ready to laugh looking at this spoof on the different Godfathers films, as well as others, most notably, Goodfellas and Casino. Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese might have laughed at seeing some of the material they directed seen in a different light.

The casting was excellent. LLoyd Bridges, for whom the film is dedicated, gives a great performance as the older Vincenzo Cortino. Jay Mohr as the younger Cortino is good. The same can be said for the rest of the cast that do some amazing funny turns.

The only suggestion is to stay tuned to the credits because of the funny lines in between the names of the people involved in this film. If you're in a mood for fun and want to see some light fare, this is the film for you.

This film is a nice tribute to the late (great) Lloyd Bridges in his final role as the main Don Conrtino (he keeps mixing it up though) who must pass on his business (mob) to his son Tony (played hilariously by Jay Mohr). A great spoof as always coming from ZAZ man (A man actually) Jim Abrahams who casts Bridges for the 5th time. He also brings to the screen zany yet funny parodies of films (gnagster in general) including- GoodFellas, Casino, The Godfather Trilogy, Jaws, Jurassic Park 1 & 2, and countless others. Plenty of gags and two great performances save this film from plot destruction. One of the funniest spoofs ever. A+

While many reviewers gave this film mild or bad reviews, they all seem to miss the attention to detail -- the artistic attempt not only to recreate the look and atmosphere of THE GODFATHER, but also the look of the periods depicted. I found the film delightful. I was expecting what I got -- a spoof from the AIRPLANE folks. They didn't promise Shakespeare so don't expect iambic pentameter.

Let me start out by saying that I'm the type of person who is open to all kinds of comedy, whether it's dumb or smart, that's just me. Though I'll admit, this movie was the kind of dumb comedy that my 8 year old brother would laugh hysterically at simply because of the physical humor. My parents however did not enjoy it as much. As for me, I found the movie to be funny despite what others may say. I found it be a clever dumb comedy, like watching a Leslie Nelson movie, things like that I enjoy. So, if you're the type of person who enjoys this type of movie, go ahead and enjoy it. If you're the person who would rather watch a comedy like "American Splendor" good for you. In short, this movie would only be considered funny, or even good, depending on the type of person you are.

Jim Abrahams has written several of my favorite fast-paced comedies, like "Hot Shots" and "The Naked Gun", and of course my favorite "Airplane!". This was the first movie that i felt it was obvious he was losing his touch. The comedy is not as fast-paced here as it was before, nor is it as spot-on. Spoofing the "Godfather"-movies shouldn't be very hard really. Those movies are as potentially silly as great movies always are, walking the thin line that greatness is.

The problem here is that i think they missed so many things that could have been spoofed, and they included some things that didn't need spoofing. The best part of the movie in my opinion is the one with the young Cortino coming to America. The more contemporary parts are less funny and more silly. Mostly i find it to be a lack in the script department as both Lloyd Bridges and Jay Mohr are pretty suitable for their parts.

In the end this is about 50 percent embarrassing and 50 percent funny, much like many of Leslie Nielsens later movies. It's far from "Hot Shots" and "Naked Gun" but then again such comedy is not what it was.

I was really looking forward to seeing this film last night as I am a huge fan of the Airplanes, Hot Shots, Police Squads, Naked Guns and Top Secret. I found this on lovefilm and thought - why have i never heard of this? I haven't laughed this hard for ages. I admire the filmmakers so much for being so clever and entertaining. The production values are really high as well, everything looks quality and well made. Older films like Airplane etc can look cheap but it adds to their charm, so it was nice to see this modern film which was hardly a blockbuster, made so well and looking like the budget was much higher.

Of course not every joke tickled my funny bone, I could have done without the farting, spewing and when Lloyd Bridges get shot up but people think he's dancing.

But apart from that I found it absolutely hilarious and I can't wait to see it again. Jay Mohr is so great - if you can, watch Action. It's a TV series he did, only one series but it's soooo good! Really funny and totally uncheesy like all American sitcoms feel they have to be. It's about a Hollywood producer.

Anyway, back to Mafia. The writers have worked so hard, not only on the script but the visual gags, injokes and references. I love spotting a funny poster, or something in the credits. Everyone has put so much effort into making this movie the best and the funniest it could be.

I was stunned by the low rating but hey, different strokes for different folks.

If you are reading the comments, deciding whether or not to rent/buy this movie, I definitely think you should - especially if you are a fan of Airplane,Top Secret, Police Squad, Naked Gun, Police Academy and Hot Shots.

Fun Fact! Actor Jay Mohr is allergic to poi

What the hell is poi?

The other night I was looking for a movie to watch and I came across Mafia! For the most part, I'm a decent fan of mafia films, I love Goodfellas, Casino, and The Godfather. So a parody seemed like a good idea to me. After all, these films are always serious and sometimes you need to get a good joke out of them. So Mafia seemed like a good idea to me. I watched it last night and I have to say that while there were a few laughs here and there, Mafia's humor is mostly forced and typical. I know that most parody films are usually predictable in humor, but it would have been nice if it could have had more originality. Or maybe I'm wrong, mafia movies are just not what you could parody for a story. Mafia pretty much has the typical humor of kid getting hit by every object, movies that they parody that have nothing to do with the subject they're going for, fart, and sex jokes. It's just not original; but there are a few laughs here and there I admit. The story could have worked if they just cut back on a few typical gags.

Anthony is part of the mafia family, he runs a casino in Las Vegas and his father is the Don of the family. But when his father is almost murdered during a wedding dance, he goes into the family business. With the non existing help from his coke addict brother, he must try to survive this business while trying to maintain a normal life. But he just about looses it when he decides to go ahead and kill everyone.

Mafia! is over all not the most horrible comedy I've ever seen, there are movies that are a thousand times worse, but I think that the crew of the film just got a little out of control with what they had. I think it could have been a good film if the jokes were not just so predictable and bland. The cast seemed to have an alright time making the movie, I don't think they were really into it, except for Lloyd Bridges who played The Godfather, he looked like he had a fun time. I don't know if I would recommend this film, if you're looking for an average parody, this the movie for you, but don't expect anything more.

4/10

According to arbitrary statistics; over 90% of Americans don't know who Jane Austen is, which is why the name was dropped from the promotion of Jane Austen's Mafia! (1998). In other news, at least five quarters of all Popes found to be Catholic. Film at eleven.

Directed and partially written by spoof veteran Jim Abrahams; Mafia! is to The Godfather (1972) as Hot Shots! (1991) is to Top Gun (1986), a merciless p*ss take. The competent yet lacklustre Jay Mohr stars as Tony Cortino, an amalgam of Casino (1995) De Niro and Godfather Pacino, along with Christina 'don't call me Bundy' Applegate ostensibly filling Diane Keaton's shoes. Elder performers Olympia Dukakis and Lloyd Bridges get to suitably degrade themselves, in the late Bridges' case, for the last time, with roles as senior Cortino family members.

This being a spoof movie, large liberties are taken with the films it sends up. Probably the most successful instance comes in the form of a well executed imitation of the explosive Casino opening titles. Unfortunately, this of course comes right at the start of the film, and it's a peak not really matched in the following hour and a bit. The period switching device of The Godfather Part II (1974) is borrowed, allowing the freedom for some amusing asides, but badly breaking up the flow of the movie. The gags manage to keep up a reasonable pace, but often whither on the vine in the hands of performers unskilled in this brand of comedy. Mohr in particular would have served better with a more confident, energetic performance similar to the one he later would display in short lived, cult hit series Action (1999). Fans of the genre will notice some flatly recycled material and will probably miss the input of usual Abrahams collaborators the Zucker brothers.

Though Scorsese's Casino receives plenty of attention, it's superior predecessor Goodfellas (1990) remains inexplicably untapped. Clearly a wasted opportunity as the faster pace and contemporary tone of Scorsese's films lend themselves to parody far more readily than the austere mob epics of Coppola. Grasping cribs from Forrest Gump (1994) and Jurassic Park (1993) suggest Abrahams was struggling for material to pad out the relatively modest eighty odd minute running time. The diminishing returns are finally retired with a successful finale mirroring that of the much maligned Godfather Part III (1990).

Mafia! is a middling entry in a sub-genre that reached it's zenith with the sublime six half hours of Police Squad! (1982). Abrahams benefits greatly from his choice of such classic, strongly iconic films to make fun of. It's this that puts even the mediocre Mafia! way ahead of the facile ilk of Scary Movie (2000) and it's increasingly vulgar sequels. It's difficult to find humour in lampooning material that's already too lame to be taken seriously. Mafia! is a fairly safe bet to raise a chuckle or two from mob and spoof fans alike, but it's not up to the standard of either Hot Shots! instalment.

Here's a very funny spoof on The Godfather story. This is a Leslie Nielsen-type silly parody, except the late Lloyd Bridges played the lead role instead Nielson.

Actually Jay Mohr was more of the lead actor in here, narrating the film and taking Al Pacino's Godfather role while Christina Applegate took Diane Keaton's character.

There are a number of laugh-out-loud lines in this movie and a number of overdone slapstick scenes. As with any comedy in which the material comes at you at a rapid pace (see the Marx Brothers films from 70 years ago to see some of the origins of comedic mayhem), you get a lot funny and not-so-funny. They come at you so fast you can hardly keep up. I found that there were a lot of funny lines written on background buildings, street signs, etc. on this film. You almost have to freeze-frame some scenes to "read" all the jokes, much less hear them.

This movie did do something that Hollywood films rarely have done: poke fun at a Democrat. Usually, the cheap shots are reserved for Republcians (Nixon, Gingrich, Reagan, Bush, etc) but here we have the famous "But I never had sex with that woman!" line delivered in a obvious reference. Well, good for them. About time the Liberals were recipients of a cheap shot or two. It only happens about once every 25 years in films. So, I give this film points for being "fair and balanced."

Also points should be awarded for having several actors from the actual Godfather films make appearances here, too. The film was dedicated "in loving memory" to Bridges, so I assume this was his last movie. Well, he certainly went out with a laugh.

"Jane Austen's Mafia!" was funny back in 1998, and let me just say that it is every bit as funny now in 2021 as it was back then.

Sure, a movie such as "Jane Austen's Mafia!" might not come into being in today's age and today's cotton-wrapped society where anything and everything offends a minority group out there somewhere and somehow. So yeah, a movie such as what writers Jim Abrahams, Greg Norberg and Michael McManus came up with back in 1998 might not sit well with everyone in the audience today.

I have to say that the comedy in a movie such as this is something that has always sat well with me and appealed to my particular sense of humor, just like many of the other spoofs similar to this one out there from back in the day.

There are lots of things going on in "Jane Austen's Mafia!", lots and lots of stuff. And you have to pay attention to most things in every scene, because there are subtle comedy that you pick up only if you are very perceptive, and then there are an abundance of in your face comedy as well.

The storyline told in "Jane Austen's Mafia!" is pretty straight forward, with some spoofs here and there and lots of great comedy. So there are lots of laughs to be had throughout the course of this movie.

And it should be said that the cast ensemble was great for the movie, with the likes of Lloyd Bridges, Billy Burke, Jay Mohr, Christina Applegate, Olympia Dukakis, Joe Viterelli, Vincent Pastore and many other familiar faces.

I have returned to watch "Jane Austen's Mafia!" for the fourth or fifth time now since it was originally released, and the movie proves every bit as funny each time. Definitely a spoof comedy gem here.

My rating of "Jane Austen's Mafia!" lands on a six out of ten stars.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I love parodies. Whether they're done by Mel Brooks, the Abrahams or even Enzio Greggio, it is always interesting to see how many movie references are tagged on. Mafia though does have more than its fair share of bad jokes, but it does have several very funny scenes such as the boy's wish on the falling star (stolen from Repossessed who stole it from Benny Hill), a take on Riverdance and the Lou Ferrigno hand dryer. While Jay Mohr is not among my favorite actors, heck, he ruined "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," he does have numerous funny lines. It is also a thrill to see Christina Applegate playing someone other than Kelly Bundy. It is though hard to watch Lloyd Bridges take a role more meant for Leslie Nielsen; he was just too old for that much physical humor. Two things do work against this movie, the shifting between past and present which is too disorienting, and the tacking on of too many movie references. "Shriek If You Know" with Tiffani Thiessen ran smoother. Despite a few flaws in its pace, the movie is an uproarious laughfest and deserves its place in the limelight.

It certainly took a long time to get to see the first spoof on the ever-so -serious mafia flicks! However, it was worth the wait - Jim Abrahams has certainly not lost his touch. Although there is an abundant number of really bad jokes in the picture, and many times you've heard them before (in Airplane!, Naked Gun etc.), one cannot help but like it. For one thing, Mafia! looks fabulous (especially the Sicilian scenes). At times sparks really fly in terms of funny dialogue and character interaction - I especially enjoyed Christina Applegate's 'presidential' performance. Although Lloyd Bridges will be fondly remembered (and missed), I would have preferred to see Leslie Nielsen in Don Cortino's role.

I very much enjoy comedies - this movie was almost never funny and a waste of time ... Absolutely in the bottom 1% of all movies I've even seen (and there have been 100's if not 1000s)...

This is the worst movie I have ever seen. I did not laugh once during the entire movie....and I usually enjoy spoofs. Ugh...terrible movie. Please, dont anybody watch this film. If there were a way i could vote lower than 1 i would do it in a heartbeat. THE WORST MOVIE EVER.

i remember when this movie was coming out in theaters a long time ago and i wanted to see it because it looked funny but i'm glad i didn't see it until tonight because it wouldn't have been nearly as entertaining because i hadn't seen any of the movies it was spoofing. mafia movies are my favorite kind of movie and i've seen all of them and i love them and tonight i saw mafia! on TV and i thought it was the funniest movie i've ever seen. i laughed harder at this movie than any other movie that i can remember. if you are a mafia movie lover and you haven't seen this movie i very strongly suggest it. freakin' hilarious! please pardon any spelling errors as frankly i don't give a f*** enough to check my spelling.

Don't worry...you'll cum...one day...you'll see.

The second this movie started I knew that I did not like it . The only reason I kept watching it was because I was on a bus ride to Washington D.C., and their was nothing better to do. Mafia does have it's occasional good jokes, but besides that it is a pointless story. The movie spends 20-30 minutes in Italy back in the early 1900's that has nothing to do with the story. I just hated this movie it had no plot, moral, or meaning.

Mafia! was a hilarious movie! But it had no point. And that's not just something some stuck up smart - noting - is - funny - everything - is - pointless person would say. I was on a bus with 43 other people, and they all said the same thing. It was a funny movie, but it was too confusing. It had no point and no problem. They kept talking about different times and different people, and then someone dies, and that's it. But I say you should watch it anyways, because it's so funny.

Decent concept, decent comedic crew, but terrible outcome. There are very few laughs in this so-called "comedy", and those laughs would only be enjoyable for those that notice the resemblance between the godfather/mob movies. It's too bad this is Lloyd Bridge's last movie, since it is a rather embarrassing departure. Hopefully people won't judge his career on this flop.

More comedy than I expected. The one liners were hilarious. It had its stupid parts, but so stupid you had to laugh at the stupidity.

As with most recent movie parodies, Mafia! also fails to deliver anything but one or two chuckles (literally, and take one away if you haven't seen CASINO). No laughing out loud here, folks. To really experience a funny movie, rent THE NAKED GUN or go see THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. Those two will definitely deliver the goods.