Film

Wise Guys

Name: Wise Guys
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: 1986
Cast: Danny DeVito, Joe Piscopo, Harvey Keitel, Ray Sharkey, Dan Hedaya

Buddy comedy
Gangster
Light-hearted

A scrappy 1986 mob comedy about two small-time wiseguys who screw up spectacularly and flee to Atlantic City. Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo are genuinely funny together—quick, physical, game for anything. It's silly and occasionally mean-spirited, but never boring. Perfect if you want something light that doesn't pretend to be smarter than it is.

TMDb rating

2.7

If you liked this

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Two con artists swap identities with hilarious consequences. Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd have the same scrappy-underdog chemistry DeVito and Piscopo do, and the plot twists are actually clever.

But The comedy is more sophisticated and the pacing slower. If you want pure slapstick mayhem, this gets a bit too pleased with itself.

Coming to America1988

Eddie Murphy as an African prince trying to blend in—joyful, absurd, endlessly quotable. It has the same warmth and 80s energy, but with higher production values and better comic writing.

But It's longer and more plot-heavy. The romance subplot drags occasionally, and some jokes land harder than others.

Beverly Hills Cop1984

Fast, funny, and genuinely charming. Eddie Murphy improvises circles around everyone, and the crime-comedy balance is nearly perfect. You'll understand why this one spawned sequels.

But It's more of a straight action-comedy. If you're coming to Wise Guys for pure silliness, this takes itself a bit too seriously.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Wise Guys

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Raising Arizona1987

Both films love their criminals without sentimentality. Both find humour in desperation and believe two-character dynamics can carry a whole movie.

Nicolas Cage and John Goodman as criminals too bumbling and human to hate. It's wild and poetic and hilarious at once. The Coen Brothers make absurdity feel inevitable.

But It's genuinely strange. The plot is cartoon-logic, the visuals are overdone, and some of the violence is uncomfortable. It takes getting used to.

Johnny Dangerously1984

A goofy parody of 1930s gangster movies with Joe Piscopo (your co-star!) and an absurdist sense of humour. It commits fully to the bit and doesn't blink.

But The humour is relentlessly broad. Some jokes are painful, and the plot is deliberately threadbare. It's more sketch than story.

Throw Momma from the Train1987

Danny DeVito directs and stars in this dark comedy about murder, obsession, and terrible life choices. It's sweeter than you'd expect and genuinely funny without trying too hard.

But The dark material—actual intended murder—might feel heavy if you want something light. The pacing is deliberately quirky.

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Griffin Dunne spends one nightmarish night in downtown Manhattan. It's frantic, absurd, and endlessly inventive. Scorsese directing a comedy proves the formula works.

But The tone is anxious and disorienting. It's funny but also exhausting, and there's no real resolution. Not relaxing viewing.

Innerspace1987

Dennis Quaid and Martin Short are a shrunken pilot and an anxiety-ridden grocery clerk. Pure physical comedy, ridiculous premise, genuinely affectionate between the chaos. Joe Dante directing at full throttle.

But The special effects are dated and the plot is bonkers. If you need things to make sense, you'll be frustrated.

The Grifters1990

John Cusack, Annette Bening, and John Huston as con artists with real stakes. It's darker and smarter than Wise Guys, but has the same energy about people tricking people.

But It's genuinely cynical and ends poorly. There's no warmth here—just ambition and betrayal. Not what you want from an 80s comedy.

Vice Versa1988

Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage swap bodies. Simple, earnest, surprisingly touching. It's exactly the kind of thing that works if you stop thinking and just watch.

But It's very much a kids' film masquerading as family entertainment. The humour is obvious and the sentiment thick. Adults might find it saccharine.

Reno 911!: Miami2007

Both are low-concept comedies about small-time criminals/cops who are terrible at their jobs but impossible to dislike. Both prioritize ensemble chemistry and riffing over narrative.

A comedy troupe playing incompetent cops investigating a crime. It's anarchic, fast, genuinely silly, and made on the assumption that if you throw enough ideas at the wall, some will stick. Pure joy if you're in the right headspace.

But It's basically an extended sketch show. There is no real plot. If you need structure and character arcs, this will feel shapeless and exhausting.