The Super
Encyclopedia
The Super is a 1991 American comedy
film starring Joe Pesci
as a New York
slum landlord
sentenced to live in one of his own buildings until it is brought up to code. Screenwriter Nora Ephron
co-scripted the story with Sam Simon
.
stars as Louie Kritski, a heartless slumlord
who was born into money, thanks to his ruthless father, "Big Lou" (Vincent Gardenia
), also a slumlord. However, the tables turn on Lou when he's threatened with prison for his failure to keep his New York
slum
up to code. The judge gives him another option, which he accepts, he must live in one of his own shoddy run down apartment blocks until he brings it up to livable standards. At first Louie is adamant that not one repair will be carried out, and will wait until his father bails him out. However, Louie has a change of heart after meeting and getting to know the buildings residents including a small time hustler named Marlon (Ruben Blades
). Over time, Louie grows more sympathetic with their problems and makes amends for his greediness through actions such as donating space heaters to the tenants to help them cope with the winter
. Unfortunately, Big Lou Kritski is the owner of the property in title, and he resists his son's entreaties to spend money to improve the tenements. When Louie confronts Big Lou who is about to set fire to his own tenement
, all the residents appear on the roof to back up Louie.
The film received mixed to poor reviews in its theatrical release.
Kenny Blank
, who played Tito, was nominated for a Young Artist Award
in 1992 in the category 'Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Motion Picture'
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
film starring Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
as a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
slum landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
sentenced to live in one of his own buildings until it is brought up to code. Screenwriter Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger.She is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay; for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in...
co-scripted the story with Sam Simon
Sam Simon
Samuel "Sam" Simon is an American director, producer, writer, boxing manager and philanthropist. While at Stanford University, Simon worked as a newspaper cartoonist and after graduating became a storyboard artist at Filmation Studios. He submitted a spec script for the sitcom Taxi, which was...
.
Plot
Joe PesciJoe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
stars as Louie Kritski, a heartless slumlord
Slumlord
A slumlord is a derogatory term for landlords, generally absentee landlords, who attempt to maximize profit by minimizing spending on property maintenance, often in deteriorating neighborhoods. They may need to charge lower than market rent to tenants...
who was born into money, thanks to his ruthless father, "Big Lou" (Vincent Gardenia
Vincent Gardenia
Vincent Gardenia was an Italian American stage, film, and television actor.-Early life:...
), also a slumlord. However, the tables turn on Lou when he's threatened with prison for his failure to keep his New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
slum
Slum
A slum, as defined by United Nations agency UN-HABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure security. According to the United Nations, the percentage of urban dwellers living in slums decreased from 47 percent to 37 percent in the...
up to code. The judge gives him another option, which he accepts, he must live in one of his own shoddy run down apartment blocks until he brings it up to livable standards. At first Louie is adamant that not one repair will be carried out, and will wait until his father bails him out. However, Louie has a change of heart after meeting and getting to know the buildings residents including a small time hustler named Marlon (Ruben Blades
Rubén Blades
Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
). Over time, Louie grows more sympathetic with their problems and makes amends for his greediness through actions such as donating space heaters to the tenants to help them cope with the winter
Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in temperate climates, between autumn and spring. At the winter solstice, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, with days lengthening as the season progresses after the solstice.-Meteorology:...
. Unfortunately, Big Lou Kritski is the owner of the property in title, and he resists his son's entreaties to spend money to improve the tenements. When Louie confronts Big Lou who is about to set fire to his own tenement
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, all the residents appear on the roof to back up Louie.
Cast
- Joe PesciJoe PesciJoseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
as Louie Kritski - Vincent GardeniaVincent GardeniaVincent Gardenia was an Italian American stage, film, and television actor.-Early life:...
as Big Lou Kritski - Ruben BladesRubén BladesRubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
as Marlon - Madolyn Smith OsborneMadolyn Smith OsborneMadolyn Smith Osborne is an American actress.Madolyn Smith Osborne may be best-known for her roles in the TV miniseries If Tomorrow Comes and the feature film Funny Farm, which co-starred Chevy Chase. In 1984, she appeared in 2010, with Roy Scheider...
as Naomi Bensinger - Stacey TravisStacey TravisStacey Travis is an American actress whose films include Earth Girls Are Easy , Hardware , The Super , Traffic , and Ghost World . Travis starred on the comedy TV series Just Say Julie from 1989–1992 where she played a variety of characters...
as Heather - Carole ShelleyCarole ShelleyCarole Shelley is an English actress. Among her many stage roles are the character of Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of the musical Wicked.-Life and career:...
as Irene Kritski - Kenny BlankKenny BlankKenny Blank, full birth name Kenneth Michael Benbow Blank , is an American actor and prodigy musician. Later, he changed his name to Kenn Michael...
as Tito - Steven Rodriguez as Pedro
Reception
The Super had a $22 million production budget. However, the film was a box-office failure, only grossing $11,000,863 domestically in its release.The film received mixed to poor reviews in its theatrical release.
Kenny Blank
Kenny Blank
Kenny Blank, full birth name Kenneth Michael Benbow Blank , is an American actor and prodigy musician. Later, he changed his name to Kenn Michael...
, who played Tito, was nominated for a Young Artist Award
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
in 1992 in the category 'Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Motion Picture'