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* BrokenPedastal: Barbara is less-than-pleased to find out Sam's deception.
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* BrokenPedastal: BrokenPedestal: Barbara is less-than-pleased to find out Sam's deception.
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* BrokenPedastal: Barbara is less-than-pleased to find out Sam's deception.
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* PlayingAgainstType: The directorial variant - this was the first non-''{{Airplane}}!'' style comedy by Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker film, a more traditional comedy.
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* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Film/IndependenceDay President Whitmore]] aka [[{{SpaceBalls}} Lone Wolf]] with a bad blond dye job as "perhaps the stupidest person on the face of the earth."
** [[MillersCrossing Eddie Dane]] is the Bedroom Killer.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Sharp ears will detect PhilHartman as voicing a TV news reporter.
* HilariousInHindsight: The slow police "chase" of Ken is remarkably similar to O.J. Simpson's white Bronco incident 8 years later.
** [[MillersCrossing Eddie Dane]] is the Bedroom Killer.
* HeyItsThatVoice: Sharp ears will detect PhilHartman as voicing a TV news reporter.
* HilariousInHindsight: The slow police "chase" of Ken is remarkably similar to O.J. Simpson's white Bronco incident 8 years later.
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* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The opening dialogue of the film consists of Sam telling Carol that he married Barbara only for her money, that he hates her with every fiber of his being, and that he is going to thoroughly enjoy killing her by throwing her off a cliff so he can inherit her money. Not counting the animated opening credits, the film hasn't reached its fifth (or maybe third) minute and already we hate this guy.
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* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The opening dialogue of the film consists of Sam telling Carol that he married Barbara only for her money, that he hates her with every fiber of his being, and that he is going to thoroughly enjoy killing her by throwing her off a cliff so he can inherit her money. Not counting the animated opening credits, the film hasn't reached its fifth (or maybe third) minute and already we hate (or absolutely ''love'') this guy.
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* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The opening dialogue of the film consists of Sam telling Carol that he married Barbara only for her money, that he hates her with every fiber of his being, and that he is going to thoroughly enjoy killing her by throwing her off a cliff so he can inherit her money. Not counting the animated opening credits, the film hasn't reached its fifth (or maybe third) minute and already we hate this guy.
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Added Hilarious in Hindsight entry
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* HilariousInHindsight: The slow police "chase" of Ken is remarkably similar to O.J. Simpson's white Bronco incident 8 years later.
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A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and is married to Barbara (BetteMidler), but he hates her, having wed her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (BillPullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[ItMakesSenseInContext makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all PlayedForLaughs to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated SerialKiller, and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of the earth (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first movie role).
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[ItMakesSenseInContext makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all PlayedForLaughs to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated SerialKiller, and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of the earth (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first movie role).
to:
A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and is married to Barbara (BetteMidler), but he hates her, having wed her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, the ''incredibly'' dim-witted Earl Mott (BillPullman), (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first role), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[ItMakesSenseInContext makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all PlayedForLaughs to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated SerialKiller, and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of theearth (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first movie role).earth.
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[ItMakesSenseInContext makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all PlayedForLaughs to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated SerialKiller, and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of the
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** Bonus points for the DVD chapter also saying, "She Really Was Kidnapped".
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* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Film/IndependenceDay President Whitmore]] with a bad blond dye job as "perhaps the stupidest person on the face of the earth."
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* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Film/IndependenceDay President Whitmore]] aka [[{{SpaceBalls}} Lone Wolf]] with a bad blond dye job as "perhaps the stupidest person on the face of the earth."
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* HeyItsThatVoice: Sharp ears will detect PhilHartman as voicing a TV news reporter.
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* VillainWithAnFInEvil: Carol and Earl. They blanche at the ''thought'' of murder.
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* VillainWithAnFInEvil: [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Villains With An F In Evil]]: Carol and Earl. They blanche at the ''thought'' of murder.
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* VillainWithAnFInEvil: Carol and Earl. They blanche at the ''thought'' of murder.
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--->'''Ken:''' ''(incredulous)'' What did he do, ''hire a press agent''?!
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--->'''Ken:''' ''(incredulous)'' What did he do, ''hire a press agent''?!publicist''?!
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--->'''Ken:''' ''(incredulous)'' What did he do, ''hire a press agent''?!
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** When the Benton video is played on department store televisions, an offscreen woman can be heard exclaiming, "That's my husband!"
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** Since the whole point of the story is that it's basically a modern version of ''The Ransom of Red Chief'', not to mention the whole point of her character arc throughout the movie, Sam's unreliability and the stresses of the situation aside it is perhaps safe to suggest that Barbara wasn't the nicest of people to begin with.
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** Since the whole point of the story is that it's basically a modern version of ''The Ransom of Red Chief'', Chief'' (i.e. kidnappers have to deal with an utterly insufferable kidnap victim), not to mention the whole point of her character arc throughout the movie, Sam's unreliability and the stresses of the situation aside it is perhaps safe to suggest that Barbara wasn't the nicest of people to begin with.
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** Barbara's horrible behavior at the beginning is justified as she has just been kidnapped by the Kesslers, complete strangers to her, even if they do treat her nicely. We only have Sam's word that she was horrible to live with and he isn't a reliable source. It's entirely possible that the much nicer person she becomes as the movie progresses is actually what she is normally like when not angry and afraid and being held prisoner in someone's basement.
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** Barbara's horrible behavior at the beginning is justified as she has just been kidnapped by the Kesslers, complete strangers to her, even if they do treat her nicely. We only have Sam's word that she was horrible to live with and he isn't a reliable source. It's entirely possible that the much nicer person she becomes as the movie progresses is actually what she is normally like when not angry and afraid and being held prisoner in someone's basement. basement.
** Since the whole point of the story is that it's basically a modern version of ''The Ransom of Red Chief'', not to mention the whole point of her character arc throughout the movie, Sam's unreliability and the stresses of the situation aside it is perhaps safe to suggest that Barbara wasn't the nicest of people to begin with.
** Since the whole point of the story is that it's basically a modern version of ''The Ransom of Red Chief'', not to mention the whole point of her character arc throughout the movie, Sam's unreliability and the stresses of the situation aside it is perhaps safe to suggest that Barbara wasn't the nicest of people to begin with.
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** Lampshaded by the police detectives at the scene of the above:
-->'''Lt. Walters''': This could very well be the stupidest person on the face of the earth. Perhaps we should shoot him.
-->'''Lt. Walters''': This could very well be the stupidest person on the face of the earth. Perhaps we should shoot him.
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* LosAngeles
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* LosAngelesUsefulNotes/LosAngeles
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* [[spoiler: [[WealthyEverAfter Wealthy Ever After]]: Ken, Sandy, and Barbara after making off with most of the ransom money.]]
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Grammar, typos, and punctuation
Changed line(s) 60 (click to see context) from:
** Barbaras horrible behaviour at the beginning is justified as she has just been kidnapped by the Kesslers, complete starngers to her, even if they do treat her nicely. We only have Sam's word that she was horrible to live with and he isnt a reliable source. Its entirely possible that the much nicer person she becomes as the movie progresses is actually what she is normally like when not angry and afraid and being held prisnor in someones basement.
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** Barbaras Barbara's horrible behaviour behavior at the beginning is justified as she has just been kidnapped by the Kesslers, complete starngers strangers to her, even if they do treat her nicely. We only have Sam's word that she was horrible to live with and he isnt isn't a reliable source. Its It's entirely possible that the much nicer person she becomes as the movie progresses is actually what she is normally like when not angry and afraid and being held prisnor prisoner in someones someone's basement.
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**Barbaras horrible behaviour at the beginning is justified as she has just been kidnapped by the Kesslers, complete starngers to her, even if they do treat her nicely. We only have Sam's word that she was horrible to live with and he isnt a reliable source. Its entirely possible that the much nicer person she becomes as the movie progresses is actually what she is normally like when not angry and afraid and being held prisnor in someones basement.
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Married to his wife! Imagine that!
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and his wife Barbara (BetteMidler) are married, but he hates her, having married her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (BillPullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
to:
A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and his wife is married to Barbara (BetteMidler) are married, (BetteMidler), but he hates her, having married wed her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (BillPullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
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* HumiliationConga: Starts on Sam when he get arrested for the murder of his wife.
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* PoliceAreUseless: They don't have a clue as to what's happening until Carol orders the Chief to arrest Sam Stone.
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** Also when the police come to Sam and ask him to come and identify the body, uniformed officers are playing tennis on his tennis court.
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* NeverFoundTheBody: Subverted after the kidnapper and his car falls into the water at the pier. A short time later, [[spoiler: we see the police fishing the corpse of the Bedroom Killer (who died earlier in the kidnapper's house by accident) out of the water (the kidnappers put him there as a decoy) while the kidnapper survives thanks to SCUBA gear and makes it to the beach to be reunited with his girlfriend and Mrs. Stone before the end credits roll.]]
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A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and his wife Barbara (Bette Midler) are married, but he hates her, having married her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (Bill Pullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
to:
A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and his wife Barbara (Bette Midler) (BetteMidler) are married, but he hates her, having married her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (Bill Pullman), (BillPullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
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[[quoteright:261:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ruthless_cover_4819.JPG]]
-->'''Sam Stone:''' ''[to the kidnappers]'' What do I have to do? Put a gun in your hand, aim and pull your finger down, you spineless wimp?! ''[[[CrowningMomentOfFunny cue Ken sagging in defeat]]]'' I dare you to kill her! ''[hangs up]'' Now ''that'' oughta do it!
A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and his wife Barbara (Bette Midler) are married, but he hates her, having married her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (Bill Pullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[ItMakesSenseInContext makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all PlayedForLaughs to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated SerialKiller, and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of the earth (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first movie role).
----
!!Tropes:
* AnimatedCreditsOpening: The opening credits are a clever series of ruthless acts, like stabbing, poisoning, arson, etc.
* AutoErotica: Chief Benton has wild sex with a prostitute at night in his car while Earl Mott is filming both of them in an attempt to prove Sam Stone murdered his wife.
* BeeBeeGun: At one point, after learning of Sam's infidelity and his refusal to pay the ransom, Barbara fantasizes punishing him by covering with honey and taking him to a bee farm.
* BillBillJunkBill: Sam does almost exactly this when he returns home.
--> '''Sam:''' "Junk, garbage, garbage, junk..."
* CompensatingForSomething: Strongly hinted by Ken by anyone who wants the massive Dominator speakers.
-->'''Male buyer:''' Yeah, uh, what do you think of this one? ''(winks at girlfriend)''
-->'''Ken:''' The Dominator X1? The Dominator's a good ''marketing'' idea, but it's really not a good speaker. ''(half-whispers)'' We give it a 500% markup, so we sell it at 50% off, giving the customer the illusion he's getting a deal, but we still make a bundle.
-->'''Girlfriend:''' But it's so big and impressive!
-->'''Ken:''' Size means very little. Bigger is not necessarily better. ''({{beat}})'' [[LampshadeHanging I sound like Dr. Ruth.]]
-->'''Girlfriend:''' You mean the Dominator's like a, uh--
-->''(at this point, the Male Buyer is looking VERY sheepish and embarrassed)''
-->'''Ken:''' Well, the Dominators are very popular with men who'd like to have bigger... uh...
-->'''Girlfriend:''' Equipment?
-->'''Ken:''' Exactly!
-->''(the Male Buyer looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here now)''
* TheDitz / DumbBlonde: Earl.
* TheEighties: Dear Lord, yes. Especially the fashions.
-->'''Earl:''' ''(seeing his fish)'' [[MiamiVice Crockett and Tubbs]]... they're floatin'!
* EtTuBrute: "My tux. My silk tux. Et tu, Adolf? Et tu?"
* EvilRedhead: Carol plans to blackmail Sam, although she's otherwise not that villainous.
* FatSuit: Bette Midler wears one for pre-captured Barbara.
* FlawExploitation: Barbara, and ''how''! For example, she frightens Sandy with state execution talk.
-->'''Barbara:''' It could mean the difference between life, and the chair! ''(pretends to be electrocuted violently)'' Or the gas chamber. ''(makes hissing and gasping sounds)'' You know, sometimes, the firing squad? They miss all the major arteries! BANG! ''(slumps as if shot)'' And you don't die right away, you kinda just... hang on... bleeding... BLEEDING...
-->''(Sandy screams and runs away.)''
** To Ken, who doesn't scare as easily:
-->'''Barbara:''' ''(whistles)'' Nice butt. That's what they'll say.
-->'''Ken:''' I beg your pardon?
-->'''Barbara:''' Nice butt. That's what they'll say on your first day, in the men's club.
-->'''Ken:''' The men's club?
-->'''Barbara:''' Mmm. The San Quentin Country Club. With a cute little rear end like that, you'll be the belle of the ball. [[PrisonRape Your dance card'll be filled every day.]] You'll be so popular, making all kinds of new, close friends. Big, ugly, hairy friends! Not that you'll ever see what they look like, 'cause you'll be facing the other way.
-->'''Ken:''' [[ShutUpHannibal You're very good at this.]] [[DeadpanSnarker You should write children's books.]]
* ForTheEvulz: Sam loves wrong phone numbers.
-->'''Sam:''' Hello? Debbie? Yeah, Debbie's here, who's this? Well, Ralph, uh, Debbie can't talk right now, my dick's in her mouth. How about if I have her call you back later when I'm done? ''(hangs up)'' I love wrong numbers.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Two detectives walk along the boardwalk discussing how great it is that Barbara and Sam have been reunited. Meanwhile, Barbara is kicking Sam's ass behind them.
* GambitPileup:
** Ken and Sandy kidnap Barbara because her husband Sam stole Sandy's spandex miniskirt idea (and thought Barbara was complicit as well.)
** Sam wants to goad the kidnappers into killing Barbara so he can inherit her fortune and live happily ever after with his mistress Carol.
** Carol is pretending to have the hots for Sam so she can blackmail him for the murder.
* GilliganCut: When Barbara arrives at her kidnappers' home.
--> '''Barbara''': MY HUSBAND WORSHIPS THE GROUND I WALK ON! WHEN HE FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS, HE WILL EXPLODE!!
--> *cut to Sam, popping open a champagne bottle*
--> '''Sam''': [cackles, pours] Bye bye, Barbara!
** And the first ransom phonecall, where the kidnappers tell Sam not to contact the police or the media or his wife will die. Cut to a huge slew of TV vans and police cruisers around his house.
* GoldDigger: Sam on Barbara, Carol on Sam.
* GroinAttack: Barbara fantasizes about this.
-->'''Barbara:''' Castrate him! I wanna castrate him! ''[demonstrates]''
** She also does it once or twice to Ken when trying to escape.
* HeelFaceTurn: Of a sort; Barbara isn't exactly a villain, but she is a pretty horrible person at the beginning of the movie. Spending time with the Kesslers, however, and losing weight has an improving effect on her personality and she gradually becomes a much nicer person.
* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Film/IndependenceDay President Whitmore]] with a bad blond dye job as "perhaps the stupidest person on the face of the earth."
** [[MillersCrossing Eddie Dane]] is the Bedroom Killer.
* HomePornMovie: This is what the "evidence tape" turns out to be.
* TheImmodestOrgasm: The prostitute having sex with Chief Benton:
-->'''Chief Benton''': I like a woman who makes a lot of sound.
-->'''Prostitute''': Uh-huh. Well, I'll scream my head off if you want to, honey. It's your money.
-->'''Chief Benton''': Yeah, my wife just lays there like a gunnysack.
** Then when they proceed to 'get it on', her screams are so loud that Earl thinks the murder that's supposed to happen is especially brutal.
* IronicEchoCut: When Earl and Carol deduce that Barbara's kidnapping was real:
-->'''Carol''': Barbara really was kidnapped!\\
''[cut to Sam in the police station]''
-->'''Sam''': ''[pleading]'' She really was kidnapped!
* [[ItsXIHateX It's X, I Hate X]]: The serial killer tells [[spoiler: Barbara]] "You remind me of my mother. I ''hate'' my mother."
* LargeHam: Barbara and Sam.
* LimaSyndrome: The Kesslers and Barbara.
* MassiveMultiplayerScam: A simple kidnapping turns into this by the end of the movie.
* AMatchMadeInStockholm: The Kesslers and Barbara, partly due to them being nicer to her than her husband apparently ever was.
* MistakenForMurderer: A {{justified| trope}} form in that Sam said he was going to kill Barbara. Things just get really confused over what actually happens.
* TheMistress: Carol
* MoodWhiplash: Deliberately by Barbara, who is supposed to pretend to be a helpless kidnappee who needs Sam, but is so vengeful she ''needs'' to insult him.
-->'''Barbara:''' ''(on phone with Sam)'' Do you have it all? 2.2 million dollars in unmarked, non-sequential bills? '''''YOU MISERABLE SCUM-SUCKING PIG!''''' Oh, I'm sorry, honey. [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial They]] ''[[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial made me]]'' [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial say that.]]
-->'''Sam:''' Yeah, it's all here.
-->'''Barbara:''' And you have it all in a briefcase? '''''YOU SCUMBAG, YOU LOWLIFE MOTHERFUCKER!''''' I'm sorry. They made me say that ''too''! ''(she grins and sips some wine)''
** What really makes the scene is the unabashed, avid grin on Barbara's face during the scene.
* MostDefinitelyNotAVillain: Ken and Sandy.
* NiceGuy: Ken, who refuses to force people to buy the biggest speakers in the store, and even ''tells'' them how the store rips people off with them by overpricing. At one point, Ken, infuriated at being manipulated into dropping the ransom ''again'' by Sam, decided to be "ruthless" and force a kid barely out of school into buying the expensive speakers even though he can't afford it ("That's the beauty of it. If you can't afford it, fuckin' finance it! Who cares if it's as big as Subaru and costs twice as much, you'll never have to upgrade it and when you die you can be buried in 'em!"), but when he sees said kid has a pregnant wife, he backs off and suggests the bargain speakers again. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Dawwwwwww...]]
* OneDialogueTwoConversations: ''Constantly.'' Sam talks about the kidnapping but Carol thinks he's talking about the murder he had planned. Carol thinks she's talking about evidence that proves Sam killed his wife but Chief Benton thinks he's being blackmailed into arresting an innocent man. Sam talks about having rough sex but Carol thinks he's threatening to torture and kill her.
* OnlySaneMan: Ken often comes across as this.
* PityTheKidnapper: Just at first.
* PlayingAgainstType: The directorial variant - this was the first non-''{{Airplane}}!'' style comedy by Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker film, a more traditional comedy.
* PrettyInMink: Carol has a dark mink coat and a white mink jacket.
* PrisonsAreGymnasiums: The Kesslers' basement is for Barbara. She loses a fair amount of weight in a very short time, which actually sparks [[AMatchMadeInStockholm her friendship with her kidnappers]].
** Though, it's not a [[FridgeLogic well-thought-out execution]] of the trope. Barbara is there at most two weeks, not enough time to lose 20+ pounds, at least not ''safely''. She also says she's eating less, which makes sense in terms of burning calories, but also begs the question of why she looks slim and fit instead of starved.
* PrisonRape: Barbara threatens Ken with it; when Sam's thrown in jail, one of the inmates makes a move on him.
* SexyCoatFlashing: Carol shows up at Sam's office on his birthday with only a teddy under her mink coat.
* SheCleansUpNicely: Even Sam, who loathes Barbara, is flabbergasted with how svelte she becomes.
* SouthernBelle: Carol, which is to be expected for a character played by Anita Morris.
* SplitScreenPhoneCall: Twice, between Carol and Chief Benton discussing Sam's arrest and then his release.
* SpringtimeForHitler: Sam tries to get his wife killed by failing to pay the ransom. It doesn't work.
* SweaterGirl: Carol has a few sweaters.
* SympatheticCriminal: The Kesslers. Part of the joke is that the only people who explicitly break the law are also the only completely nice and decent ones.
* TitleDrop: Danced around by Ken, who tells Sandy that they need to "think ruthless."
* TitleThemeTune: The opening song by MickJagger.
* ThreatBackfire: The whole movie revolves around this.
* TooDumbToLive: Earl Mott, who among other things inserts himself into a hostage/robbery scenario ''after'' the police have already surrounded the scene.
--> '''Lt. Bender''': ''[in megaphone]'' This is the Los Angeles Police Department.
--> '''Earl''': ''[calling]'' Really?
--> '''Lt. Bender''': ''[in megaphone]'' [[SarcasmMode ...no! We're the National Rifle Association!]] ''[cue row of officers aiming guns at Earl, who drops his in shock]''
** Also {{Lampshaded}} by Carol, when confused by the Police Chief's reaction to the "evidence" tape. When she says, "Either the chief is a complete moron and complete morons are ''rare''... ", [[CrowningMomentOfFunny her eyes fix for a second on Earl]].
* YouCanKeepHer: A classic example.
* YourCheatingHeart: The Chief gets caught in some very off the wall implications of this.
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-->'''Sam Stone:''' ''[to the kidnappers]'' What do I have to do? Put a gun in your hand, aim and pull your finger down, you spineless wimp?! ''[[[CrowningMomentOfFunny cue Ken sagging in defeat]]]'' I dare you to kill her! ''[hangs up]'' Now ''that'' oughta do it!
A modern update of O Henry's ''The Ransom Of Red Chief'', and the first traditional, non-RapidFireComedy by Zucker Abrahams Zucker. Businessman Sam Stone (Danny [=DeVito=]) and his wife Barbara (Bette Midler) are married, but he hates her, having married her only for her money. In fact, Sam has decided to murder Barbara for her inheritance. But before he can kill her, she gets kidnapped by a nice young married couple, Sandy and Ken Kessler (Helen Slater and Judge Reinhold), who are trying to recoup the money Sam made off of an idea he stole from them. Unfortunately, they're not very good at the kidnapping thing, and fail to be the [[TitleDrop ruthless people]] they should be. Sam does everything they tell him not to (like calling the cops), so they will kill Barbara like they threatened to. She ends up being "marked down" several times, but he refuses to pay. Meanwhile Sam's mistress, Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris), and her other boyfriend, Earl Mott (Bill Pullman), try to blackmail Sam for the murder of Barbara, which hasn't even happened... yet...
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[ItMakesSenseInContext makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all PlayedForLaughs to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated SerialKiller, and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of the earth (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first movie role).
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!!Tropes:
* AnimatedCreditsOpening: The opening credits are a clever series of ruthless acts, like stabbing, poisoning, arson, etc.
* AutoErotica: Chief Benton has wild sex with a prostitute at night in his car while Earl Mott is filming both of them in an attempt to prove Sam Stone murdered his wife.
* BeeBeeGun: At one point, after learning of Sam's infidelity and his refusal to pay the ransom, Barbara fantasizes punishing him by covering with honey and taking him to a bee farm.
* BillBillJunkBill: Sam does almost exactly this when he returns home.
--> '''Sam:''' "Junk, garbage, garbage, junk..."
* CompensatingForSomething: Strongly hinted by Ken by anyone who wants the massive Dominator speakers.
-->'''Male buyer:''' Yeah, uh, what do you think of this one? ''(winks at girlfriend)''
-->'''Ken:''' The Dominator X1? The Dominator's a good ''marketing'' idea, but it's really not a good speaker. ''(half-whispers)'' We give it a 500% markup, so we sell it at 50% off, giving the customer the illusion he's getting a deal, but we still make a bundle.
-->'''Girlfriend:''' But it's so big and impressive!
-->'''Ken:''' Size means very little. Bigger is not necessarily better. ''({{beat}})'' [[LampshadeHanging I sound like Dr. Ruth.]]
-->'''Girlfriend:''' You mean the Dominator's like a, uh--
-->''(at this point, the Male Buyer is looking VERY sheepish and embarrassed)''
-->'''Ken:''' Well, the Dominators are very popular with men who'd like to have bigger... uh...
-->'''Girlfriend:''' Equipment?
-->'''Ken:''' Exactly!
-->''(the Male Buyer looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here now)''
* TheDitz / DumbBlonde: Earl.
* TheEighties: Dear Lord, yes. Especially the fashions.
-->'''Earl:''' ''(seeing his fish)'' [[MiamiVice Crockett and Tubbs]]... they're floatin'!
* EtTuBrute: "My tux. My silk tux. Et tu, Adolf? Et tu?"
* EvilRedhead: Carol plans to blackmail Sam, although she's otherwise not that villainous.
* FatSuit: Bette Midler wears one for pre-captured Barbara.
* FlawExploitation: Barbara, and ''how''! For example, she frightens Sandy with state execution talk.
-->'''Barbara:''' It could mean the difference between life, and the chair! ''(pretends to be electrocuted violently)'' Or the gas chamber. ''(makes hissing and gasping sounds)'' You know, sometimes, the firing squad? They miss all the major arteries! BANG! ''(slumps as if shot)'' And you don't die right away, you kinda just... hang on... bleeding... BLEEDING...
-->''(Sandy screams and runs away.)''
** To Ken, who doesn't scare as easily:
-->'''Barbara:''' ''(whistles)'' Nice butt. That's what they'll say.
-->'''Ken:''' I beg your pardon?
-->'''Barbara:''' Nice butt. That's what they'll say on your first day, in the men's club.
-->'''Ken:''' The men's club?
-->'''Barbara:''' Mmm. The San Quentin Country Club. With a cute little rear end like that, you'll be the belle of the ball. [[PrisonRape Your dance card'll be filled every day.]] You'll be so popular, making all kinds of new, close friends. Big, ugly, hairy friends! Not that you'll ever see what they look like, 'cause you'll be facing the other way.
-->'''Ken:''' [[ShutUpHannibal You're very good at this.]] [[DeadpanSnarker You should write children's books.]]
* ForTheEvulz: Sam loves wrong phone numbers.
-->'''Sam:''' Hello? Debbie? Yeah, Debbie's here, who's this? Well, Ralph, uh, Debbie can't talk right now, my dick's in her mouth. How about if I have her call you back later when I'm done? ''(hangs up)'' I love wrong numbers.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Two detectives walk along the boardwalk discussing how great it is that Barbara and Sam have been reunited. Meanwhile, Barbara is kicking Sam's ass behind them.
* GambitPileup:
** Ken and Sandy kidnap Barbara because her husband Sam stole Sandy's spandex miniskirt idea (and thought Barbara was complicit as well.)
** Sam wants to goad the kidnappers into killing Barbara so he can inherit her fortune and live happily ever after with his mistress Carol.
** Carol is pretending to have the hots for Sam so she can blackmail him for the murder.
* GilliganCut: When Barbara arrives at her kidnappers' home.
--> '''Barbara''': MY HUSBAND WORSHIPS THE GROUND I WALK ON! WHEN HE FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS, HE WILL EXPLODE!!
--> *cut to Sam, popping open a champagne bottle*
--> '''Sam''': [cackles, pours] Bye bye, Barbara!
** And the first ransom phonecall, where the kidnappers tell Sam not to contact the police or the media or his wife will die. Cut to a huge slew of TV vans and police cruisers around his house.
* GoldDigger: Sam on Barbara, Carol on Sam.
* GroinAttack: Barbara fantasizes about this.
-->'''Barbara:''' Castrate him! I wanna castrate him! ''[demonstrates]''
** She also does it once or twice to Ken when trying to escape.
* HeelFaceTurn: Of a sort; Barbara isn't exactly a villain, but she is a pretty horrible person at the beginning of the movie. Spending time with the Kesslers, however, and losing weight has an improving effect on her personality and she gradually becomes a much nicer person.
* HeyItsThatGuy: [[Film/IndependenceDay President Whitmore]] with a bad blond dye job as "perhaps the stupidest person on the face of the earth."
** [[MillersCrossing Eddie Dane]] is the Bedroom Killer.
* HomePornMovie: This is what the "evidence tape" turns out to be.
* TheImmodestOrgasm: The prostitute having sex with Chief Benton:
-->'''Chief Benton''': I like a woman who makes a lot of sound.
-->'''Prostitute''': Uh-huh. Well, I'll scream my head off if you want to, honey. It's your money.
-->'''Chief Benton''': Yeah, my wife just lays there like a gunnysack.
** Then when they proceed to 'get it on', her screams are so loud that Earl thinks the murder that's supposed to happen is especially brutal.
* IronicEchoCut: When Earl and Carol deduce that Barbara's kidnapping was real:
-->'''Carol''': Barbara really was kidnapped!\\
''[cut to Sam in the police station]''
-->'''Sam''': ''[pleading]'' She really was kidnapped!
* [[ItsXIHateX It's X, I Hate X]]: The serial killer tells [[spoiler: Barbara]] "You remind me of my mother. I ''hate'' my mother."
* LargeHam: Barbara and Sam.
* LimaSyndrome: The Kesslers and Barbara.
* MassiveMultiplayerScam: A simple kidnapping turns into this by the end of the movie.
* AMatchMadeInStockholm: The Kesslers and Barbara, partly due to them being nicer to her than her husband apparently ever was.
* MistakenForMurderer: A {{justified| trope}} form in that Sam said he was going to kill Barbara. Things just get really confused over what actually happens.
* TheMistress: Carol
* MoodWhiplash: Deliberately by Barbara, who is supposed to pretend to be a helpless kidnappee who needs Sam, but is so vengeful she ''needs'' to insult him.
-->'''Barbara:''' ''(on phone with Sam)'' Do you have it all? 2.2 million dollars in unmarked, non-sequential bills? '''''YOU MISERABLE SCUM-SUCKING PIG!''''' Oh, I'm sorry, honey. [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial They]] ''[[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial made me]]'' [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial say that.]]
-->'''Sam:''' Yeah, it's all here.
-->'''Barbara:''' And you have it all in a briefcase? '''''YOU SCUMBAG, YOU LOWLIFE MOTHERFUCKER!''''' I'm sorry. They made me say that ''too''! ''(she grins and sips some wine)''
** What really makes the scene is the unabashed, avid grin on Barbara's face during the scene.
* MostDefinitelyNotAVillain: Ken and Sandy.
* NiceGuy: Ken, who refuses to force people to buy the biggest speakers in the store, and even ''tells'' them how the store rips people off with them by overpricing. At one point, Ken, infuriated at being manipulated into dropping the ransom ''again'' by Sam, decided to be "ruthless" and force a kid barely out of school into buying the expensive speakers even though he can't afford it ("That's the beauty of it. If you can't afford it, fuckin' finance it! Who cares if it's as big as Subaru and costs twice as much, you'll never have to upgrade it and when you die you can be buried in 'em!"), but when he sees said kid has a pregnant wife, he backs off and suggests the bargain speakers again. [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Dawwwwwww...]]
* OneDialogueTwoConversations: ''Constantly.'' Sam talks about the kidnapping but Carol thinks he's talking about the murder he had planned. Carol thinks she's talking about evidence that proves Sam killed his wife but Chief Benton thinks he's being blackmailed into arresting an innocent man. Sam talks about having rough sex but Carol thinks he's threatening to torture and kill her.
* OnlySaneMan: Ken often comes across as this.
* PityTheKidnapper: Just at first.
* PlayingAgainstType: The directorial variant - this was the first non-''{{Airplane}}!'' style comedy by Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker film, a more traditional comedy.
* PrettyInMink: Carol has a dark mink coat and a white mink jacket.
* PrisonsAreGymnasiums: The Kesslers' basement is for Barbara. She loses a fair amount of weight in a very short time, which actually sparks [[AMatchMadeInStockholm her friendship with her kidnappers]].
** Though, it's not a [[FridgeLogic well-thought-out execution]] of the trope. Barbara is there at most two weeks, not enough time to lose 20+ pounds, at least not ''safely''. She also says she's eating less, which makes sense in terms of burning calories, but also begs the question of why she looks slim and fit instead of starved.
* PrisonRape: Barbara threatens Ken with it; when Sam's thrown in jail, one of the inmates makes a move on him.
* SexyCoatFlashing: Carol shows up at Sam's office on his birthday with only a teddy under her mink coat.
* SheCleansUpNicely: Even Sam, who loathes Barbara, is flabbergasted with how svelte she becomes.
* SouthernBelle: Carol, which is to be expected for a character played by Anita Morris.
* SplitScreenPhoneCall: Twice, between Carol and Chief Benton discussing Sam's arrest and then his release.
* SpringtimeForHitler: Sam tries to get his wife killed by failing to pay the ransom. It doesn't work.
* SweaterGirl: Carol has a few sweaters.
* SympatheticCriminal: The Kesslers. Part of the joke is that the only people who explicitly break the law are also the only completely nice and decent ones.
* TitleDrop: Danced around by Ken, who tells Sandy that they need to "think ruthless."
* TitleThemeTune: The opening song by MickJagger.
* ThreatBackfire: The whole movie revolves around this.
* TooDumbToLive: Earl Mott, who among other things inserts himself into a hostage/robbery scenario ''after'' the police have already surrounded the scene.
--> '''Lt. Bender''': ''[in megaphone]'' This is the Los Angeles Police Department.
--> '''Earl''': ''[calling]'' Really?
--> '''Lt. Bender''': ''[in megaphone]'' [[SarcasmMode ...no! We're the National Rifle Association!]] ''[cue row of officers aiming guns at Earl, who drops his in shock]''
** Also {{Lampshaded}} by Carol, when confused by the Police Chief's reaction to the "evidence" tape. When she says, "Either the chief is a complete moron and complete morons are ''rare''... ", [[CrowningMomentOfFunny her eyes fix for a second on Earl]].
* YouCanKeepHer: A classic example.
* YourCheatingHeart: The Chief gets caught in some very off the wall implications of this.
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