John Travolta is Chili Palmer, an enforcer for a loan sharking racket residing on the east coast of the United States. When one of his "customers" is behind on his payments, he must travel to Hollywood in an attempt to collect. However, before he goes, he punches a rival in the loan shark business in order to get his coat back.
When he arrives, he encounters Gene Hackman as Harry Zimm, a producer of B movies who has fallen on hard times. Rather than rough him up, Palmer pitches an idea for a movie. Although Palmer is a tough as they come, he is an avid movie buff and has always dreamed of being part of the movie business.
A drug smuggling group in Hollywood and the arrival of the mobster that Palmer punched to get his coat back further complicates the situation. The three-way interplay of these groups causes Zimm to try to play them against each other, to disastrous effects.
Danny DeVito is movie star Martin Weir, the actor that the Palmer group is trying to persuade to star in their movie. The named cast is completed by Rene Russo as a B movie starlet that is a form of girlfriend to Zimm, Bette Midler is another (aggressive) girlfriend of Zimm's and Penny Marshall has a brief cameo as a director.
This movie is made by Travolta's understated performance as a mobster. Although he is vicious, he is not malicious and his joy at discussing movies contrasted with his hard-face confrontation with fellow mobsters is delightful. I didn't find the movie hilarious, but it was well written, acted and there was a great deal of irony in the actions of all the players.

Crime comedy in which John Travolta's Miami-based loan shark goes to Los Angeles to collect a debt and finds himself attracted to the world of the Hollywood movie business. An enjoyable couple of hours, with John Travolta effortlessly cool as the loan shark who is thinking about changing careers and getting into films, and also good turns from Gene Hackman as a movie producer, Dennis Farina and Delroy Lindo as a couple of ruthless gangsters and Danny DeVito as a Hollywood movie star.

Forget the old single disc version,this 2-DVD set from MGM is the one to get,great remastered picture,sound and lots of great extras,can't believe I found the 2-DVD version brand new and factory sealed (for $4.99,won't tell the name of the store) and more cheaper than than the bare-bones single DVD edition!!! A great 90's black comedy!!! This had a sequel called Be Cool which was also good but not as good as the classic original!!! Money well spent!!! Recommended!!! A+

The GET SHORTY DVD I received was for hearing impaired viewing. The English words spoken were written out on the bottom of the screen and it was very distracting. And very disappointing! The seller's ad did NOT specify that the DVD they were selling had these captions added. Bad deal.

I love this movie , but I am returning this DVD for refund because it is a fake widescreen! All they did was cut off the top and bottom of a 4/3 image all the way... I can't stand false advertising!