Analyze That
The mafia's Paul Vitti is back in prison and will need some serious counseling when he gets out. Naturally, he returns to his analyst Dr. Ben Sobel for help and finds that Sobel needs some serious help himself as he has inherited the family practice, as well as an excess stock of stress.
The film disappointed at the box office against its moderate budget of $60.0M, earning $55.0M globally (-8% loss).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Analyze That (2002) reveals strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Harold Ramis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 5.9, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Paul Vitti
Dr. Ben Sobel
Laura Sobel
Jelly
Patti LoPresti
Agent Stedman
Main Cast & Characters
Paul Vitti
Played by Robert De Niro
Mob boss feigning insanity to avoid prison, manipulates his psychiatrist to help him prepare for a legitimate job.
Dr. Ben Sobel
Played by Billy Crystal
Psychiatrist reluctantly pulled back into treating the manipulative mobster, struggling to maintain professional boundaries.
Laura Sobel
Played by Lisa Kudrow
Ben's wife who is increasingly frustrated with Vitti's intrusion into their family life.
Jelly
Played by Joe Viterelli
Vitti's loyal right-hand man and bodyguard who follows him throughout his scheme.
Patti LoPresti
Played by Cathy Moriarty
Rival mob boss who suspects Vitti is faking his mental breakdown and poses a threat.
Agent Stedman
Played by Reg Rogers
FBI agent monitoring Vitti's activities and pressuring Dr. Sobel to cooperate.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Paul Vitti is in Sing Sing prison, establishing his current confined world as a mob boss behind bars, while Ben Sobel has returned to his comfortable psychiatric practice.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Paul Vitti suffers an apparent psychological breakdown in prison, singing show tunes and acting erratically, forcing the authorities to consider his mental competency and release.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Ben officially accepts custody of Paul Vitti, making the active choice to bring the mobster into his home and life, crossing from safety into chaos., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat It's revealed that Paul may have been faking his breakdown to get out of prison, and he becomes involved with his old crew again. The stakes raise as the FBI pressures Ben to inform on Paul., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ben's career and reputation are destroyed when his involvement with Paul becomes public. A confrontation or violent incident threatens both their lives, representing the death of Ben's professional credibility., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ben realizes Paul's true plan or motivation, and discovers a way to use Paul's mob knowledge to resolve the conflict. New information allows Ben to take control of the situation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Analyze That's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Analyze That against these established plot points, we can identify how Harold Ramis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Analyze That within the comedy genre.
Harold Ramis's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Harold Ramis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Analyze That takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Harold Ramis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Harold Ramis analyses, see The Ice Harvest, Year One and National Lampoon's Vacation.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Paul Vitti is in Sing Sing prison, establishing his current confined world as a mob boss behind bars, while Ben Sobel has returned to his comfortable psychiatric practice.
Theme
A prison official or character mentions that some people never change or questions whether therapy can truly reform a career criminal, stating the central question: Can people truly transform?
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Paul's deteriorating mental state in prison, Ben's successful practice and family life, and the contrasting worlds of criminal incarceration and suburban psychiatry.
Disruption
Paul Vitti suffers an apparent psychological breakdown in prison, singing show tunes and acting erratically, forcing the authorities to consider his mental competency and release.
Resistance
Ben is pressured by the FBI and authorities to take responsibility for Paul's release and rehabilitation. Ben resists, debates, and reluctantly agrees to supervise Paul, knowing it will disrupt his life.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ben officially accepts custody of Paul Vitti, making the active choice to bring the mobster into his home and life, crossing from safety into chaos.
Mirror World
Paul attempts to work legitimate jobs and navigate the straight world, creating a relationship dynamic that mirrors the therapy relationship but in reverse—now Ben must guide Paul through normal life.
Premise
The comedic premise plays out: Paul trying various legitimate jobs (car dealer, jewelry store), clashing with Ben's family life, and the chaos of a mobster attempting to go straight while being monitored.
Midpoint
It's revealed that Paul may have been faking his breakdown to get out of prison, and he becomes involved with his old crew again. The stakes raise as the FBI pressures Ben to inform on Paul.
Opposition
Paul gets deeper into criminal activity while pretending to work as a consultant on a mob TV show. Ben's professional and personal life unravels as he's caught between the FBI and the mob.
Collapse
Ben's career and reputation are destroyed when his involvement with Paul becomes public. A confrontation or violent incident threatens both their lives, representing the death of Ben's professional credibility.
Crisis
Ben faces the wreckage of his life and must decide whether to abandon Paul or find a way to resolve the situation. Dark reflection on whether helping Paul was worth the cost.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ben realizes Paul's true plan or motivation, and discovers a way to use Paul's mob knowledge to resolve the conflict. New information allows Ben to take control of the situation.
Synthesis
Ben and Paul work together to outsmart the rival mobsters and the FBI. The finale combines Paul's street skills with Ben's psychological insights to resolve the criminal plot and clear their names.
Transformation
Final image shows the transformed relationship between Ben and Paul, with both men having learned from each other—Paul showing genuine growth and Ben having survived the chaos with new perspective.