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[[File:ruthless_cover_4819.jpg|frame]]
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A modern update of [[O. Henry]]'s ''[[The Ransom
Confused yet? Well don't worry, it all [[It Makes Sense in Context|makes sense when you see it]]. The "drama" is all [[Played for Laughs]] to make for a very funny movie which features attack dogs, an accidental extortion of the area police chief, a seemingly-unrelated [[Serial Killer]], and quite possibly the stupidest person on the face of the earth (Bill Pullman, in his hilarious first movie role).
{{tropelist}}
* [[Animated Credits Opening]]: The opening credits are a clever series of ruthless acts, like stabbing, poisoning, arson, etc.
* [[Auto Erotica]]: 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.
* [[Bee
* [[Bill, Bill, Junk, Bill]]: Sam does almost exactly this when he returns home.
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* [[Compensating for Something]]: Strongly hinted by Ken by anyone who wants the massive Dominator speakers.
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'''Ken:''' The Dominator X? The Dominator's a good ''marketing'' idea, but it's really not a good speaker. ''(half-whispers)'' We give it a 50% markup, so we sell it at 30% off, give the customer the illusion he's getting a deal, and we still make a bundle.
'''Girlfriend:''' But it's so big and impressive!
'''Ken:''' Size means very little. Bigger is not necessarily better. ''([[Beat]])'' [[Lampshade Hanging|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 like to have bigger... uh...
'''Girlfriend:''' Equipment?
'''Ken:''' Exactly!
''(the Male Buyer looks like he'd rather be anywhere but here now)'' }}
* [[The Ditz]] / [[Dumb Blonde]]: Earl.
* [[The Eighties]]: Dear Lord, yes. Especially the fashions.
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* [[Et Tu, Brute?]]: "My tux. My silk tux. Et tu, Adolf? Et tu?"
* [[Evil Redhead]]: Carol plans to blackmail Sam, although she's otherwise not that villainous.
* [[Fat Suit]]: Bette Midler wears one for pre-captured Barbara.
* [[Flaw Exploitation]]: Barbara, and ''how''! For example, she frightens Sandy with state execution talk.
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''(Sandy screams and runs away.)'' }}
** To Ken, who doesn't scare as easily:
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'''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. [[Prison Rape|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:''' [[Shut UP, Hannibal|You're very good at this.]] [[Deadpan Snarker|You should write children's books.]] }}
* [[For the Evulz]]: Sam loves wrong phone numbers.
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* [[Funny Background Event]]: 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.
* [[Gambit Pileup]]:
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** Carol is pretending to have the hots for Sam so she can blackmail him for the murder.
* [[Gilligan Cut]]: When Barbara arrives at her kidnappers' home.
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*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.
* [[Gold Digger]]: Sam on Barbara, Carol on Sam.
* [[Groin Attack]]: Barbara fantasizes about this.
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** She also does it once or twice to Ken when trying to escape.
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: 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.
* [[Hey, It's That Guy!]]: [[Independence Day|President Whitmore]] with a bad blond dye job as "perhaps the stupidest person on the face of the earth."
** [[
* [[Home Porn Movie]]: This is what the "evidence tape" turns out to be.
* [[The Immodest Orgasm]]: The prostitute having sex with Chief Benton:
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'''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.
* [[
* [[Large Ham]]: Barbara and Sam.
* [[Lima Syndrome]]: The Kesslers and Barbara.
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* [[The Mistress]]: Carol
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: 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.
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'''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.
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* [[She Cleans Up Nicely]]: Even Sam, who loathes Barbara, is flabbergasted with how svelte she becomes.
* [[Southern Belle]]: Carol, which is to be expected for a character played by Anita Morris.
* [[Split
* [[Springtime for Hitler]]: Sam tries to get his wife killed by failing to pay the ransom. It doesn't work.
* [[Sweater Girl]]: Carol has a few sweaters.
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* [[Threat Backfire]]: The whole movie revolves around this.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Earl Mott, who among other things inserts himself into a hostage/robbery scenario ''after'' the police have already surrounded the scene.
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'''Earl''': ''[calling]'' Really?
'''Lt. Bender''': ''[in megaphone]'' [[Sarcasm Mode|...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''... ", [[Crowning Moment of Funny|her eyes fix for a second on Earl]].
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[[Category:Films of the 1980s]]
[[Category:Ruthless People]]
[[Category:
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