Mafia!, released in theaters on July 24, 1998, directed by Jim Abrahams (Airplane!, The Naked Gun), is a relentlessly silly and irreverent spoof that sets its sights squarely on cinematic classics like The Godfather and Casino.
The film stars Jay Mohr as Anthony “Tony” Cortino, the reluctant heir to the most powerful crime family in America.
The narrative traces the sprawling history of the Cortino clan, beginning with the origins of the patriarch, Don Vincenzo Cortino (Lloyd Bridges).
The plot follows Tony’s attempts to distance himself from the family business after returning from the war. However, destiny—and a steady stream of absurd, slapstick chaos—keeps pulling him back into the underworld.
After an attempted assassination puts his aging, perpetually confused father, Vincenzo, out of commission, Tony is forced to take over the family reigns, much to the chagrin of his ambitious, jealous brother, Joey (Billy Burke).
The plot is less concerned with narrative coherence than with generating rapid-fire gags, often dismantling iconic scenes from mob movies with literal-minded jokes and sight gags.
The film boasts a wonderful ensemble cast dedicated to the comedic tone.
Bridges delivers a memorably daffy performance as the Don, a fitting send-off to his career.
Christina Applegate shines as Tony’s ambitious, often exasperated girlfriend, Diane.
Olympia Dukakis, Joe Viterelli, Vincent Pastore, Gregory Sierra, and Tony Lo Bianco round out the cast.
The film’s original title was Jane Austen’s Mafia!.
Christina Applegate and Jay Mohr in Mafia! (Photo/Touchstone Pictures)
Reception for Mafia!
Mafia! grossed $6.6 million on its opening weekend, finishing eighth at the box office.
The film would gross $19.9 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Mafia! two out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Mafia!‘s legacy lies in its place within the lineage of Abrahams’ parody films.
While it may not reach the comedic heights of his 80s masterpieces, it remains a charmingly goofy, gag-heavy send-up that successfully lampoons the melodrama and visual tropes of the gangster genre.
