Great cast and big hit for its time., Somewhat forgotten now - which is a shame, because it's probably one of the best comedies of the 80s.

by Anonymous

reply 41

May 22, 2023 11:55 AM

I've been kidnapped by Kmart.

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by Anonymous

reply 1

May 13, 2023 11:05 AM

Not forgotten by this queen. I love that trashy movie.

YOU MISERABLE SCUM-SUCKING PIG!!!!

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by Anonymous

reply 2

May 13, 2023 11:09 AM

Love it.

My perfect Bette Midler movie marathon is Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune, and Big Business.

by Anonymous

reply 3

May 13, 2023 11:29 AM

[quote]He said I looked like his mother. He hates his mother. So, if I look like his mother and you look like his father... this is what our son would look like. Pretty strong argument for birth control.

by Anonymous

reply 4

May 13, 2023 11:38 AM

Bette's film career was on a roll in the '80s. Though JINXED (1982) bombed big time early in the decade, after a few years, she had a string of back-to-back hits: DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS (1986), RUTHLESS PEOPLE (1986), OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE (1987), BIG BUSINESS (1988), OLIVER & COMPATNY (1988), BEACHES (1988).

RUTHLESS PEOPLE was even among the Top 10 grossers of '86, and BEACHES spawned her a #1 hit single that won two Grammys.

Then in the '90s, she made stupid decisions like remaking STELLA DALLAS (1990), which flopped, and turning down SISTER ACT (#8 of '92). She surprisingly received an Oscar nomination and won the Golden Globe for FOR THE BOYS (1991), but that film was both a critical and commercial failure.

She did HOCUS POCUS (1993) because she kicked herself for having turned down SISTER ACT, but that film was a box office dud, too, though overtime it became a cult classic. It was idiotic to release the movie in theaters in mid-July.

She briefly rebounded with THE FIRST WIVES CLUB (1996), but that was her only hit of the decade.

by Anonymous

reply 5

May 13, 2023 11:49 AM

Her workout sequences in the basement in Ruthless People are comic gold. Doesn't a Billy Joel song play? "Modern Woman?"

by Anonymous

reply 6

May 13, 2023 11:52 AM

Allegedly, Suzanne Somers was asked to do Outrageous Fortune (according to her).

by Anonymous

reply 7

May 13, 2023 12:26 PM

This is my favorite Bette movie and one of my favorite movies ever. What a cast! DeVito, Midler and of course the legendary Anita Morris.

It’s never not funny. It’s one of the most twisted, surprising and darkest comedies of the 80s.

Also it’s a showcase of Memphis Design and tacky 80s pop art.

by Anonymous

reply 8

May 13, 2023 12:44 PM

I loved all of the Memphis furniture. I would watch it again just for that.

by Anonymous

reply 9

May 13, 2023 1:00 PM

I watched it last week and it's great, but could never be made now.

by Anonymous

reply 11

May 13, 2023 1:36 PM

A remake of Outrageous Fortune would work. Emma Stone and Margot Robbie.

by Anonymous

reply 12

May 13, 2023 4:04 PM

Classic ‘80s comedy. Everyone in it is great, and the soundtrack is killer.

by Anonymous

reply 13

May 13, 2023 4:21 PM

A very funny comedy. I loved seeing 𝖡𝗂𝗅𝗅 Pullman as the dopey crook. His hair was a laugh, but he was still hot eye candy.

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by Anonymous

reply 14

May 13, 2023 5:36 PM

10 fun facts about Ruthless People. Number 7 surprised.

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by Anonymous

reply 15

May 13, 2023 5:46 PM

I saw this every time this movie is mentioned but it needs to be released on Blu-Ray as does Outrageous Fortune.

I watched this during lockdown and it's still as funny as ever. What I realized about the movie is that I liked every character, even the despicable ones. And every actor is fantastic and looks like they're having a ball.

As for Bette, if there was any film where she deserved an Oscar nomination, it's this one. The film is only better because of her presence. She is so funny in this and also so lovable. BTW, r5 summarized Bette's film career perfectly.

Bill Pullman was so funny and sexy in this.

And Danny DeVito was part of some of the best dark comedies of the '80s - Ruthless People, Throw Momma from the Train and War of the Roses.

by Anonymous

reply 16

May 14, 2023 3:28 AM

R16 he directed two of them! He has a great, sick sense of humor.

by Anonymous

reply 17

May 14, 2023 4:25 AM

One line I remember the kidnapper saying "I'm not a criminal. I can't even sell retail."

by Anonymous

reply 19

May 14, 2023 4:49 AM

Ignore the shortness and bald head, Danny DeVito is a handsome man.

by Anonymous

reply 22

May 14, 2023 6:03 AM

Movies rarely come as tight as this. Plus, it's insanely 80s.

by Anonymous

reply 23

May 20, 2023 9:57 PM

LOVE this move. I laugh my ass off every time I see it. The scenes with Anita Morris are hysterical. My favorite, among many in this mve, is when she thinks Danny Devito wants her to fuck a dog,

by Anonymous

reply 24

May 20, 2023 10:52 PM

Cried laughing at the scene of Anita Morris in the car and Bill Pullman looking on in horror thinking she was being murdered while she was having sex

by Anonymous

reply 25

May 20, 2023 11:14 PM

That wasn't Anita Morris in the car, that was some random ho.

by Anonymous

reply 26

May 20, 2023 11:21 PM

That wasnt Anita Morris, that was a prostitute, but yes, it was funny as hell.

by Anonymous

reply 27

May 20, 2023 11:22 PM

Despite the myth that SUPERGIRL (1984) ended her film career, Helen Slater followed that turkey with a supporting role in RUTHLESS PEOPLE (#9 of 1986) and the female lead in THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS (#7 of 1987).

Rather, it was Faye Dunaway who SUPERGIRL did no favors.

by Anonymous

reply 28

May 21, 2023 10:39 AM

I even loved Helen in the Supergirl follow up The Legend of Billie Jean, which was also a bomb but has since become a cult classic.

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by Anonymous

reply 29

May 21, 2023 1:41 PM

It wasn't a hit but I like the theme song for this movie.

How did they get Mick jagger? Someone had connections.

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by Anonymous

reply 30

May 21, 2023 3:32 PM

R30, I don't know if Bette and Mick were or are friends/buddies/long term acquaintances, but they do look chummy and friendly and playful in this whacked out video from 1983... anyone else think there was a lot of cocaine on the set?

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by Anonymous

reply 31

May 21, 2023 3:45 PM

The Head of the Class guy going, "Moar! Moar!! MOOOOOOARRRRR"

Then they play the video in a Sears or something and you hear some woman blurt out, "Oh God, that's my husband!"

by Anonymous

reply 32

May 21, 2023 3:58 PM

As a kid, I actually believed that Bette was really big and had lost all that weight exercising in the basement.

by Anonymous

reply 33

May 21, 2023 4:50 PM

Wasn't Madonna originally supposed to be in this? Can you imagine the stench she would have left???

The film is perfectly cast. Everybody in this film is terrific.

by Anonymous

reply 34

May 21, 2023 5:57 PM

“ GIVE THE BAG TO BOZO, DROP THE GUN, AND PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR.”

by Anonymous

reply 36

May 21, 2023 10:39 PM

[quote]This could very well be the stupidest person on the face of the earth. Perhaps we should shoot him.

by Anonymous

reply 37

May 21, 2023 10:50 PM

Look at the Bette Midler-ologist at r5

by Anonymous

reply 38

May 21, 2023 10:52 PM

One of the few modern day screwball comedies Hollywood attempted after What's Up, Doc? Broadway Danny Rose was another one. I respect Ruthless People A LOT. Structurally, it does everything right for a screwball comedy. It's one big flaw: it ain't that funny joke-wise and the performances were a little too over-the-top (I'm looking at you Danny DeVito -- and you, too, Bette).

by Anonymous

reply 39

May 22, 2023 1:43 AM

Just watched it again for the first time since it came out thanks to this thread. Very enjoyable, but my favorite part was Judge Reinhold's ass! I wish those type of 80s jeans were still popular.

by Anonymous

reply 40

May 22, 2023 4:45 AM

Touchstone Pictures = Disney's excuse to use swear words

Would Walt approve...???

by Anonymous

reply 41

May 22, 2023 11:55 AM