My perception of almost anything tends to differ greatly from everyone else. It’s probably a fault of mine for being discerning in a manner that makes almost everything a disappointment. And while I’m not apt to be too discouraging about anything ZAZ (David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker) has created, I can’t say that the trio’s foray into relatively straight comedy is the peak of their catalog. There is a slick sheen to Ruthless People that’s absent from the group’s previous directorial pursuits – this being the last effort that all three would be credited as directors. And of course the following Naked Gun series was as professional looking as any other big budget comedy, but in this 1986 Danny DeVito led flick, ZAZ might sate the average film goer, but not its fan base of geeks, dweebs and low-IQ toting Neanderthals (like myself).

In the lead up to this most professional looking comedy, ZAZ waded through the cut and paste of Kentucky Fried Movie, which did sport some cinematically inclined moments that other film makers most likely took note of. And with Airplane!, more so than Top Secret!, ZAZ was able to alter the perception of spoofs that the American film going public possessed. It can’t be said that those films were smart so much as clever. And while the writing was always clearly well conceived, the angle for Ruthless People is a bit different.

Instead of consistently creating scenarios that could be manipulated as a set up for some off color play on words or a sight gag, Ruthless People follows a distinct narrative, even if it was apparently cribbed in part from an O. Henry short story. The dogged persistence in the writer’s effort of pursue a linear and traditional narrative, while apparently working out in the eyes of critics – Rotten Tomatoes has the film at something like a 90% - was to the detriment of Judge Reinhold.

Reinhold, along with his on screen wife, are to have kidnapped a wealthy woman whose husband (DeVito) wronged the two in some business dealing. With DeVito’s character being an uncaring lout unconcerned with the well being of his betrothed, no ransom is ever proffered. Because of this, and the films inclination to follow this arc through, Reinhold repeatedly makes phone calls lowering the price that he demands in order to placate DeVito. While it’s clearly necessary for the narrative, these dealings make for some boring screen time in addition to making Reinhold’s character less than likeable.

In the end, everyone gets what they want – except DeVito of course. And while the entire plot is wrapped up into a succinct variation on a Hollywood ending, the final moments of the film, when the kidnappers as well as their one time hostage traipsing off into the sunset down the beach, isn’t rewarding.

Considering that Ruthless People ended up being the end of ZAZ’s group directorial efforts, it might point to some dissatisfaction on the triumvirate’s part. Of course, the impending success of those future Leslie Neilsen vehicles probably got everyone through the night.