Director Amy Heckerling followed up her 1982 classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High by filling the gangster genre full of holes with the mob comedy spoof Johnny Dangerously starring Michael Keaton. Young Johnny has to give up his job as a paperboy and turn criminal in order to pay for his mother’s (Maureen Stapleton) litany of health issues. Peter Boyle is Johnny’s mob mentor, who puts Johnny in charge after rival gangster Roman Moronie (Richard Dimitri) declares “Fargin War!” on his gang, and not even the bathroom is safe. It’s not always dames and money fo rJohnny, as the touchy Danny Vermin (Joe Piscopo) is angling for Johnny’s place as top crimedog, and Johnny’s brother Tommy (a horny Griffin Dunne) has taken a job with the DA (DannyDeVito), unaware that Johnny is actually a criminal. Marilu Henner sparkles as the night club singer and the banter and laughs come in Tommy Gun fashion, with cameos from Dom DeLuise, Ray Walston, Alan Hale Jr. and Dick Butkus to round out the sharp cast. “Organized crime has never been this disorganized!”
