Ruthless People

The 1986 movie Ruthless People was a black comedy that starred Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater. It was directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.

Plot description

When Ken (Reinhold) and Sandy Kessler (Slater) find themselves in an untenable financial position, they hatch a desperate scheme to get rich by kidnapping Barbara Stone (Midler), the overweight loud-mouthed wife of ruthless businessman Sam Stone (DeVito). This scheme is motivated in no small part by the fact that Sam has stolen successful fashion designs from the couple and is thus largely responsible for their woes. They plan to demand a large ransom from Stone.

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Things go astray, however, when it becomes obvious that the Sam is not only sick of his wife, but is actually overjoyed to find that he doesn't have to go through the trouble of murdering her - all he needs to do is not pay the ransom, and the kidnappers will do his dirty work for him. Unfortunately for him, the Kesslers, while desperate, are not about to murder anyone.

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Sandy and Ken discover that Barbara is not keen to return to Sam, either, and the three hatch a plot to get back at Stone.

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