Alright, settle in, pop that tape in the VCR (mind the tracking!), because tonight on VHS Heaven, we're taking a trip back to 1990 – a year that, rather fascinatingly, gave us two very different cinematic takes on the life of mobster Henry Hill. While Martin Scorsese was delivering the gritty, violent masterpiece Goodfellas, the brilliant Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally...) was busy crafting its sunny, suburban cousin: My Blue Heaven. Forget witness protection being a drab affair; this is witness protection filtered through the comedic genius of Steve Martin at his flamboyant best.
### From Wiseguy to Wise Cracks
Imagine, if you will, taking a charismatic, smooth-talking New York mobster – Vinnie Antonelli, played with silver-haired glee by Steve Martin – and plunking him down in the beige-est, most average suburban neighbourhood imaginable: Fryburg, California. That's the delightful premise Ephron cooks up. Vinnie, having turned state's evidence, is now under the reluctant supervision of by-the-book FBI agent Barney Coopersmith, played with pitch-perfect earnestness by the ever-lovable Rick Moranis. What follows is less about hiding out and more about Vinnie inadvertently (and sometimes quite advertently) turning the sleepy town upside down with his old habits and irrepressible charm.
This film lives and breathes on Steve Martin's performance. It's broad, yes, but utterly magnetic. That shimmering pompadour, the impeccably tailored (and occasionally questionable) suits, the way he glides through scenes dispensing life advice and casually committing minor felonies – it’s a masterclass in comedic character work. Ephron’s script gives him killer lines, filled with that specific New York cadence and wit she was known for. A fun retro fact: Ephron was married to Nicholas Pileggi, who wrote the book Wiseguy that Goodfellas was based on. She got firsthand insight into Henry Hill's personality during his time cooperating with authorities, channeling that into the more lighthearted Vinnie. Apparently, Martin also drew inspiration from watching interviews with real mob figures to nail the persona.
### The Straight Man and the Scene Stealer
You can't have a comedic force like Vinnie without someone to bounce off, and Rick Moranis is the absolute perfect foil. Barney Coopersmith is everything Vinnie isn't: quiet, rule-abiding, slightly awkward, and utterly baffled by his new charge. Their dynamic fuels much of the film's humor, a classic odd-couple pairing where exasperation slowly melts into a strange kind of affection. Remember how great Moranis was at playing these relatable, slightly overwhelmed guys? He’s fantastic here, grounding Martin’s larger-than-life Vinnie.
And let's not forget Joan Cusack as Hannah Stubbs, the rigid, ambitious District Attorney who finds herself both appalled and weirdly intrigued by Vinnie. Cusack has always been a comedic powerhouse, capable of stealing scenes with just a look or line delivery, and she does it again here. Her character’s slow unbending under Vinnie’s influence is one of the film’s many quiet joys. The supporting cast, filled with familiar character actors, populates Fryburg with just the right mix of suburban normalcy and Vinnie-induced chaos.
### That Early 90s Charm
Watching My Blue Heaven today feels like finding a favorite comfy sweater at the back of the closet. It’s directed by Herbert Ross, who knew his way around both comedy and character pieces (Steel Magnolias, Footloose), and he lets the performances shine without unnecessary flash. There’s an easygoing charm to the whole affair, a gentle rhythm that feels distinctly different from the hyper-kinetic comedies that would follow later in the decade. The humor isn’t mean-spirited; it’s situational, character-driven, and often surprisingly sweet.
It’s fascinating to think this came out just a month after Goodfellas. While Scorsese showed the brutal reality and paranoia of mob life and its aftermath, Ephron and Ross found the absurdity and humor in the culture clash. My Blue Heaven wasn't a blockbuster (grossing around $23.7 million domestically on a $22 million budget), perhaps overshadowed by its darker cinematic sibling, but it absolutely found its audience on VHS and cable. I distinctly remember renting this one multiple times; it was the kind of movie that felt perfect for a Saturday night watch, maybe with a pizza – a reliable, funny, feel-good experience. It felt like a movie, you know? Solid storytelling, great performances, no pretensions.
### The Verdict
My Blue Heaven is a delightful comedic gem from the turn of the decade. It’s warm, witty, and anchored by a career-highlight comedic turn from Steve Martin, perfectly complemented by Rick Moranis and Joan Cusack. It captures that specific fish-out-of-water charm that comedies of the era did so well, finding humor in the collision of vastly different worlds. It might not have the gritty realism of its thematic cousin, but it offers something equally valuable: pure, unadulterated entertainment with a surprising amount of heart.
Rating: 8/10 - The rating reflects the sheer joy of Martin's performance, the sharp Ephron script, and the perfect casting of Moranis and Cusack. It loses a couple of points for perhaps being a touch predictable in its structure, but its charm and wit overwhelmingly carry the day, making it a standout comedy from the era.
Final Take: Forget the cannoli, take the charisma – My Blue Heaven is proof that even witness protection can be a riot when Steve Martin's involved, a perfect slice of early 90s comedy that still plays beautifully today.