“Johnny Dangerously” (1984)
It wasn’t so long ago that we rediscovered this vastly undersung Amy Heckerling film for another feature on sophomore movies, but we’re happy to get the opportunity to talk it up again. A knockabout send-up starring Keaton as a hapless good guy turned accidental gangster, it’s right up there with the best of Mel Brooks for an affectionate period spoof, and even features what is surely the best turn by ’80s nearly-man Joe Piscopo as a lunkish, suspicious henchman with daddy issues (who can park in the disabled spot because “I am disabled. I’m psychotic”). The gags come thick and fast (especially from an amazing Maureen Stapleton as Johnny’s mammy) and Keaton mines every one. While many miss, a higher proportion land directly on target. It’s also the first time we really saw him play a kind of romantic lead, albeit comedically—here he woos Marilu Henner’s showgirl, wins the day, teaches a valuable moral lesson to a young urchin who may have been considering a life of crime, and does it all with twinkly charm and note-perfect comic reactions. And yes, he knows his “surname is an adverb.” If there’s one unjustly buried gem in all of Keaton’s back catalogue (and there isn’t just one, there are many) “Johnny Dangerously” is possibly the one most worth digging around to find.
“The Other Guys” (2010)
“The Merry Gentleman” being such an atypically downbeat, melancholic role for Keaton, the first time we really remember thinking “Hey, Michael Keaton, where ya been?” was when he blindsided us with this glorious turn in Adam McKay’s underrated Will Ferrell/Mark Wahlberg cop comedy. The film may have gifted us the “Tuna vs Lion” bit as its most famous sketch, but its best and most original character has to be Keaton’s TLC-quoting police captain, who moonlights at a second job at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Already just a hilarious one-line high concept (Keaton himself remarked that if that gag was the only one he got to play, he’d still have signed on) it’s the kind of wonky humanity he brings to the role that makes it even more ludicrously enjoyable. Of course, Keaton started off in stand-up before getting his early TV roles, and if there’s one thing he innately knows in all of his best roles, up to and including “Birdman,” it’s the lyrics to every single TLC hit. Oh shit, no, wait—timing. I meant timing.
