A Fish Called Wanda

Rating:
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:
Summary: All-time Classic
Review: Congratulations to the American Film Institute for recognizing the hilarity of this movie and voting it one of the 100 Funniest Movies. I saw "A Fish Called Wanda" at the theater when it was first released and my friend and I laughed so loudly that we were almost asked to leave. It's just a great at home...plus people won't stare at you.

The performances of all four leads are exceptional, not just Kevin Kline's Oscar-winning Otto ("It means eight"). I've been a fan of John Cleese and Michael Palin forever and, whether Python fan or not, they'll have you rolling on the floor. Palin's stutter is brilliant especially when he's trying to tell Cleese the name of the hotel ("Sing it, Ken! Sing it!"). John Cleese is subtle and surprisingly real (I know, I was surprised too) and Jamie Lee Curtis is terrific.

In this age of Political correctness, it's fun to watch a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. This movie is what a comdey movie should be: hysterically funny.

Rating:
Summary: All-time Classic
Review: Congratulations to the American Film Institute for recognizing the hilarity of this movie and voting it one of the 100 Funniest Movies. I saw "A Fish Called Wanda" at the theater when it was first released and my friend and I laughed so loudly that we were almost asked to leave. It's just a great at home...plus people won't stare at you.

The performances of all four leads are exceptional, not just Kevin Kline's Oscar-winning Otto ("It means eight"). I've been a fan of John Cleese and Michael Palin forever and, whether Python fan or not, they'll have you rolling on the floor. Palin's stutter is brilliant especially when he's trying to tell Cleese the name of the hotel ("Sing it, Ken! Sing it!"). John Cleese is subtle and surprisingly real (I know, I was surprised too) and Jamie Lee Curtis is terrific.

In this age of Political correctness, it's fun to watch a movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. This movie is what a comdey movie should be: hysterically funny.

Rating:
Summary: Don`t Call This Fish a Classic
Review: Despite a couple of funny scenes (just funny, not really hilarious), this movie is average at best and highly disappointing. Some might say that "A Fish Called Wanda" is a masterpiece comedy, but frankly I fail to see what the hype is all about. Sure, there are a couple of quirky moments here, yet the plot is substandart, the directing is weak, the characters are not likable in the least and the acting shows signs of competence still isn`t all that great either. Overall, this effort is a mildly enjoyable cinematic experience that`s probably worth watching once if there`s nothing better around. Decent and tolerable, but a classic this is not.

Passable entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: Don`t Call This Fish a Classic
Review: Despite a couple of funny scenes (just funny, not really hilarious), this movie is average at best and highly disappointing. Some might say that "A Fish Called Wanda" is a masterpiece comedy, but frankly I fail to see what the hype is all about. Sure, there are a couple of quirky moments here, yet the plot is substandart, the directing is weak, the characters are not likable in the least and the acting shows signs of competence still isn`t all that great either. Overall, this effort is a mildly enjoyable cinematic experience that`s probably worth watching once if there`s nothing better around. Decent and tolerable, but a classic this is not.

Passable entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Keeper!
Review: Excellent comedies that really work are so very few and far between, but this beauty ranks among the best ever! Never before has John Cleese thrown so much humanity into a character; when he's smitten with Jamie Lee Curtis' character, he is absolutely head over heels in love, and it shows, and even more, it's believable! His character goes through and exhibits the full range of human emotions, and Cleese pulls it off masterfully. Kevin Kline is at the top of his game in this one--never again will I ever call anyone "stupid," lest they react like Kline's character does! Really one of this country's most under-rated actors (despite the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this movie). And not to be left out, Jamie Lee Curtis and Michael Palin are SO perfect for their roles--what a riot! Palin's character in particular is a real study in bodily disintegration! No offense to dog lovers, but Palin's reaction to his attempts at knocking-off the elderly witness that actually results in the reduction of her band of pets is comedy at it's finest! Hilarious and touching all at the same time, Wanda is a rare gem among recent movies; excellent cast, great characters, hilarious story line, and dead-on dialogue. You'll be snickering long after it's over. And never again will you look at fishtanks, fish and chips, or old ladies out walking their little dogs, the same! Watch it and you'll completely understand!

Rating:
Summary: DVD fans...
Review: Fear not, DVD fans, a brand new Special Edition version will be released in the first quarter of 2002!

Rating:
Summary: The most cleverly written comedy of the eighties!
Review: Former Monty Python member, John Cleese's screenplay for "A Fish Called Wanda", will make you laugh hysterically out of it's sheer cleverness.

All throughout the story, complex situations are leading to unexpected results. If you have seen the movie, you know about the hysterical complex chain-of-events that enable Otto, to knock Archie Leach unconscious in his own home after arriving to apologize to him.

I thought Michael Palin's character, Ken, wasn't that terribly funny through most of the picture. But even he has a great comic payoff when John Cleese bursts in on Ken, demanding vital information, and all Ken can do is stutter while Cleese waits with uncomfortable patience.

Rating:
Summary: asshooooooole!
Review: funniest movie ever! from ken's stutter to wanda's foreign language fetish to otto's bad driving, this movie would make anyone laugh (except maybe poodle lovers)!

Rating:
Summary: Great movie - disappointing DVD release
Review: Given that "Wanda" is way up there in my personal "Top 25" list, I eagerly anticipated its release on DVD and picked it up as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

Unfortunately, I'm rather disappointed in the DVD version. Were there no deleted scenes or outtakes that could've been added? Was there no behind-the-scenes documentary footage to show us? Could Michael Palin and/or John Cleese not be persuaded to add any commentary to one of the audio tracks? And speaking of the audio - why on Earth is the soundtrack in MONO??!? When I saw that on the box, I thought that _had_ to be a misprint - but no, the soundtrack is indeed in bloody single-channel monophonic.

Sorry, MGM - you blew it with this one.