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A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Warning: You may die laughing watching this movie
Review: Wake up slimy fish!!! Wake up!!! Don't call me stupid-to call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people. I apologize for any slander I may have made against you, or your family.
Otto, Wanda, Archie, Kkkkken, George-
What a bunch.
If you are even slightly trying to be politically correct or are lacking in a sense of humor, this is not the movie for you-
Nothing is sacred in this movie:
Ken trying to murder the dogs, and missing so hilarously every time. Archie with his underware on his head and the mother's picture on his, well, you know. And, let's not forget Otto eating those fish. "Better eat the green one. Ewww, don't eat the green ones. Their not ripe yet." Well, anyway, by this point in the movie, you just can't laugh anymore, but you do anyway, possibly causing bodily damage.
I've only met a few people over the years who don't find this movie funny. They should get their funny bones checked, not to mention their heads examined.
To those people who have seen this movie more than a few times: Watch it will someone who has never seen it before-you almost feel sorry for them because you sit with them and they are laughing at something, like Otto swinging Archie out of a window, but little do they realize that Archie is about to run around the same apartment with his underware on his face.
John Cleese, whereever you are-you are a genius.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Funniest Films Ever!
Review: This classic 1988 British comedy, which was written by and stars John Cleese (Fawlty Towers, Monty Python), has got to be one of the funniest films of all time, and it is certainly one of my favourites.

Briefly, the story involves four criminals who steal a fortune in diamonds. One ends up in prison (having been ratted on by two of his not-so-loyal mates); ironically, just prior to his arrest he had secretly taken the jewels and rehidden them. So the film revolves around the attempts of the others to discover the location of the jewels.

The plot is indeed a good one, but what really makes this film exceptional and so hilarious is the colourful cast of characters and the splendid performances of all involved. There simply isn't one weak performance here.

The central character is a beautiful and spirited American woman named Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis), the lone female in the gang and the only intelligent one of the lot. Wanda's one weakness, however, is her penchant for hearing foreign languages--it's something that really turns her on! This makes for much hilarity between her and her fellow gangster, Otto (whom Wanda has been trying to pass off as her brother), as Otto rattles off every known Italian food dish, type of cheese, and so on, in his attempts to seduce Wanda. Otto (Kevin Kline), by the way, is a highly paranoid, Nietzsche-reading yet empty-headed, Anglophobic, trigger-happy lunatic who thinks he's an intellectual and enjoys sniffing his armpits. He's a flamboyant personality to say the least, and one which Kline manages to carry off wonderfully--I simply cannot imagine anyone doing a better job. These two are the real powerhouses of the gang.

Then there's poor Ken (Michael Palin (Monty Python)), who's an avid animal lover--a fact which provides the basis for some extremely funny scenes. He's a humorously pathetic character--a little bit on the simple side with the worst stammer ever, and if there's a show-stealer (and I say "if" for they're all so good), for me it's Ken. He's simply hilarious, and the interplay between him and the nasty Otto is simply priceless. (It's a bit like watching a cat relentlessly toying with a poor, helpless little mouse). Lastly, one mustn't forget John Cleese, who portrays Archie, the rather reserved barrister representing George, the incarcerated gang member, and who, I just have to add, has Wanda in a fit of ecstasy (unbeknownst to himself) in one hilarious scene when he starts spouting Russian.

In conclusion, the film (which has a running time of 108 minutes) is definitely a must-see for fans of British comedy or, for that matter, for anyone looking for a thoroughly entertaining not to mention hilarious film. I've seen it a number of times and certainly don't regret purchasing it. It's definitely one to watch and rewatch. And if you've enjoyed the film, by all means check out Fawlty Towers (also co-written by and starring John Cleese and also featuring an abundance of visual humour). You'll not regret it--it's simply one of the funniest shows ever made. And so is this film!

Very highly recommended!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't Call This Movie Stupid
Review: Michael Palin is the anti-PC, stuttering, animal rights activist, thief, and doggie hitman.

Jamie Lee Curtis is sexy (of course), devious, loveable, and a manipulation mastermind.

John Cleese is, well, John Cleese.

Kevin Kline won an Oscar for his work as a philosophy-reading/mangling, live-fish-eating, ex-CIA thug named Otto.

There's a plot involving stolen diamonds and plane tickets to Rio, but, really -- who cares? The joy is in watching four brilliant comic actors, who all obviously enjoy working with one another.

The joy, and the laughs, are infectious. Quite simply, "A Fish Called Wanda" is the funniest movie of the last 25 years.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Offbeat John Cleese (Monty Python) Creation
Review: This unique English Comedy was written by co-star John Cleese, the legendary Monty Python Gang veteran. The complex plot involves the frantic efforts of a jewel thief (played by the ever-energetic Jamie Lee Curtis) to seduce an uptight barrister (Cleese), aiming to gain information about the location of hidden gems.

Fast paced action with a focus on excentric criminals, filled with witty dialogue and clever humor. Somewhat dated since its 1988 theatre run, still good cinema fun.****

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: British humor for the American palate
Review: Charles Chrichton's hiatus from the big screen had been interspersed with The Avengers after his direction of The Lavender Hill Mob. John Cleese in fact sought out Chrichton in hopes of a collaboration for A Fish Called Wanda. Starting out with only a rudimentary idea of the story, and Chrichton's request that he wanted "...to see someone steamrolled", the final result was a film that somehow struck a humorous chord all over the world. The film just somehow "worked", and it's been a cherished classic ever sense.

Kevin Kline as the violent, idiotic, and egotistic Otto indirectly steals the film, but it is John Cleese who is the genius behind the scenes. Utilizing the dry absurd whit perfected in Monty Python with co-star Michael Palin, the duo alongside sultry Jamie Lee Curtis evoke a dysfunctional yet harmonistic world of laughs, slaptstick, and that oh so familiar English congeniality that "bloody well works" in comedy.

For those longing for the complicit, balanced, and tight-fitting humor of the older English comedies, such as Alec Guinness in Our Man In Havana, and Alec again in Lavender Hill Mob, A Fish Called Wanda is a must-see. If only Hollywood knew what it was missing too.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: 5 star film, one star DVD
Review: This is a classic. It is halarious. Actually, the DVD is worth buying, but not for the DVD...I saw that it was in mono. This is so funny that it covers up, but geez. The dvd containes both full-screen and wide-screen formats, which is nice, because its a good full screen film, so thats how I'll view it until I get a widescreen television. On the other hand, the 1:85:1 presantaion is non-anamorphic (Which MGM DVD'S are, though?). The 2-channel mono is thin and unrealistic, and the picture quality beats out my old analog rectangle, which I sold at a yard sale. However this is, cheap, and I hear of an upcoming re-release. I won't buy it, because I already own it, although I might have to exchange this on Ebayif they have deleted scenes, no more mono, and restored and /or remastered picture and/or sound. The booklet spends half the time telling you interesting stuff, a fourth of the time telling you the cast's biographies, and another fourth telling you the difference between wide-screen and full-screen. There is also an easter egg where wanda the fish is floating around on your television screen. I am just glad that this is on DVD. I understand that this came out at a time of no special features, but MGM rushed to get this out. They did the best they could, but why didn't they just wait 6 more months and give it a prper release? Only about 5% of the population HAD DVD players when this came out...I'm probably comnplaining for no use, because all I really want to see is possible deleted scenes. Other that that, as long as this surpasses in quality over my VHS, is in widescreen, and never wears out, as Austin Powers says, "I'll be sound as a bound."

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Love the film! DVD is atrocious!
Review: The film is definitely on my top ten list of funniest movies of all time, with "Some Like it Hot," "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" and the Monty Python masterpieces...

But this DVD is atrocious. The soundtrack is all in the center channel... haven't heard anything worse since I gave up watching a TV with a 3 inch speaker. The theme song is burbled and warbly. There is no separation -- even to the front speakers. The dialog is flat as a flitter.

The picture quality is a hair better than off the air, rabbit ear antennae reception. At times the picture is choppy and halting -- as if you were watching it on a rental video that has been viewed too many times.

The only extra is the film's trailer.

Wait for a re-release before buying!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Laugh Out Loud RIOT
Review: I still cackle every time I watch "Wanda" with its screwball story, its zany characters and its funny one-liners that get me every time. The ensemble cast is tremendous, with Kevin Kline in his all time film role (and OScar winner) as Otto, while Jamie Lee Curtis proves her own comedic mettle in her scene-chewing moments with Cleese and Palin. The dialogue is simply hysterical, and still likeable, which I think is truly rare in a film. Without all that much gimmickry, the cast and plot work without a hitch (or rather, with so many hitches, your head'll be swimming with possibilities!) But certain scenes are standouts - the dropping pianos, the language fetishes, and especially the interplay between Kline and Palin, who lash out at each other in unpredictable, pure comedy heaven moments! You're guaranteed to love this "Wanda-r" - she's something else!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: After All These Years, I Still Don't Get It
Review: My wife and I rushed to see A FISH CALLED WANDA at the advice of several friends (whose opinions of films we value very highly), and we were utterly bored to tears. How Kevin Kline garnered an Oscar for this performance is the ultimate absurdity. While the lovely Jamie Lee Curtis does a wonderful job with the sexy seductress role she was blessed with a body to play, the rest of the players fall into rather stereotypical and/or typecast supporting members of the ensemble. With only a few laughs and no memorable scenes, A FISH CALLED WANDA will not go down in the annals of all-time favorite comedies.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very funny, but then you knew that
Review: What can I say this is a very funny film. Don't waste time reading about it. Buy or rent it and watch it. You will not be disappointed.


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