Summary: Ruthless People is a 1986 American black comedy film directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker. The movie follows Sam and Barbara Stone, a wealthy couple who plan to have Barbara's husband, Sam, kidnapped so they can collect the ransom money. However, their plans go awry when the kidnappers, Ken and Sandy, decide to hold Barbara hostage instead, unaware that she despises her husband and has no intention of paying the ransom. The film is a hilarious tale of mistaken identities, double-crosses, and the chaos that ensues as the characters try to outwit one another.
Why Watch:
🎥 Film Enthusiasts: Ruthless People is a classic example of the Zucker brothers' signature style of absurdist humor and over-the-top comedic situations. Fans of their previous works, such as Airplane! and The Naked Gun, will appreciate the film's clever writing, slapstick comedy, and memorable performances.
🤑 Fans of Dark Humor: The movie's premise of a wife plotting to have her husband kidnapped, only to have the tables turned on her, provides a deliciously dark and twisted comedic premise. Viewers who enjoy black comedy and subversive humor will find Ruthless People to be a highly entertaining and satisfying watch.
🤴🤴 Viewers Who Enjoy Seeing the Wealthy Humbled: The film's portrayal of the wealthy and privileged Stone family being outwitted and humiliated by the working-class kidnappers offers a sense of schadenfreude and satisfaction for audiences who relish seeing the powerful and entitled brought down a peg.