Robert De Niro's been leaning on his funny bone in recent years. Having played it for laughs in "Analyze This", "Meet the Parents", and "Showtime" (yes, it was meant to be a comedy), he develops a Mob mentality once more for "Analyze That".

What do you think people connected with the sort of character you play in "Analyze That" might think of the film?

If you speak to people who know that world, they get a kick out of the film. People have quoted lines from the film to Billy [Crystal]. They think the film is funny.

Where do you look for inspiration when you play a Mafioso in a movie?

It's not inspiration, it's just behavioural things. I know certain people and I observe them. I see how they behave, so they're a great source of material. In that sense, it's inspiring. You see characters who you don't believe are real, then you meet them.

In "Analyze That" we see you sing in a movie for the first time. Is this the start of a new career?

Not really. I like singing, I would like to do it, it's fun. But I don't know if I will sing again. If I was challenged to do it for a certain type of musical maybe. But it's a lot of work too. It's not easy.