A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
October 10, 2022 8:55 AM - Subscribe
British gangster George Thomason (Tom Georgeson) and his hapless aide, Ken Pile (Michael Palin), draft a pair of arrogant Americans, grifter Wanda Gerschwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) and weapons expert Otto West (Kevin Kline), for a massive diamond heist. When the job goes badly, Wanda attempts to seduce George's stuffy lawyer, Archie Leach (John Cleese), to find out where George hid the diamonds. Meanwhile, Ken repeatedly attempts to kill an elderly woman (Patricia Hayes) who witnessed the robbery.
Directed by Charles Crichton, with John Cleese as an uncredited co-director. The two also wrote the screenplay.
96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Currently streaming in the US on Showtime. Also available for digital rental on multiple outlets. JustWatch listing.
Directed by Charles Crichton, with John Cleese as an uncredited co-director. The two also wrote the screenplay.
96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Currently streaming in the US on Showtime. Also available for digital rental on multiple outlets. JustWatch listing.
This remains one of the funniest damn movies I've ever seen. Kevin Kline is just AMAZING in his role here. "You're the vulgarian, you fuck!" Really, everyone is at the top of their game. "Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself,' and the London Underground is not a political movement." I didn't get that last one when I saw this movie as a kid, but laughed my ass off when I saw the movie again about a year ago.
posted by Saxon Kane at 10:14 AM on October 10, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 10:14 AM on October 10, 2022 [9 favorites]
OTTO: Apes don't read philosophy!
WANDA: Yes they do, Otto, they just don't understand it!
One of my favorite movies.
posted by Gelatin at 10:30 AM on October 10, 2022 [7 favorites]
WANDA: Yes they do, Otto, they just don't understand it!
One of my favorite movies.
posted by Gelatin at 10:30 AM on October 10, 2022 [7 favorites]
A well deserved Academy Award for Kevin Kline.
What's odd about this movie, in retrospect, is how awful the main characters are. Wanda has no trouble lying to and dumping her boyfriend to seduce a married man and the married man is happy to dump his wife and daughter and head off with her. Ken doesn't mind killing old ladies and Otto is... Otto.
I have used Otto's fake CIA name, Harvey Manfrenjensenden, when dealing with phone scammers.
And I only just noticed that the gangster's name is the actor's name, just switched around. That's lovely.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:19 PM on October 10, 2022 [6 favorites]
What's odd about this movie, in retrospect, is how awful the main characters are. Wanda has no trouble lying to and dumping her boyfriend to seduce a married man and the married man is happy to dump his wife and daughter and head off with her. Ken doesn't mind killing old ladies and Otto is... Otto.
I have used Otto's fake CIA name, Harvey Manfrenjensenden, when dealing with phone scammers.
And I only just noticed that the gangster's name is the actor's name, just switched around. That's lovely.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:19 PM on October 10, 2022 [6 favorites]
And I only just noticed that the gangster's name is the actor's name, just switched around.
And Archie Leach was Cary Grant's real name. "Cary Grant" was a stage name.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:34 PM on October 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
And Archie Leach was Cary Grant's real name. "Cary Grant" was a stage name.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:34 PM on October 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
What's odd about this movie, in retrospect, is how awful the main characters are.
That seems right in line with John Cleese's sensibilities.
Or maybe it was in the air? 1988 was also the year of another all-time comedy classic about thieves and swindlers: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Man, what a year for comedy!
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:07 PM on October 10, 2022
That seems right in line with John Cleese's sensibilities.
Or maybe it was in the air? 1988 was also the year of another all-time comedy classic about thieves and swindlers: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Man, what a year for comedy!
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:07 PM on October 10, 2022
I remember laughing at this, but also being so upset about the dogs and the fish that I didn't want to see it again. I was very young at the time but I'm not sure if I've changed my mind.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:16 PM on October 10, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Countess Elena at 6:16 PM on October 10, 2022 [6 favorites]
Ironically, as a near-middle-aged adult, I found the dog-killings more upsetting and less cartoonish than I did as a pre-teen/teen.
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:46 PM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 6:46 PM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
I apologise unreservedly. I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.
posted by fairmettle at 10:11 PM on October 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by fairmettle at 10:11 PM on October 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
Seeing Otto go into contortions trying to say sorry is one of the funniest things ever.
Some other favourite bits:
[Otto pulls out a silenced pistol and fires two shots at the safe]
Wanda: What are you doing?
Otto: I'm thinking.
Otto: Avoid the green ones. They're not ripe yet.
Otto: It's a Buddhist meditation technique. Focuses your aggression. The monks used to do it before going into battle"
posted by Hardcore Poser at 10:53 PM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Some other favourite bits:
[Otto pulls out a silenced pistol and fires two shots at the safe]
Wanda: What are you doing?
Otto: I'm thinking.
Otto: Avoid the green ones. They're not ripe yet.
Otto: It's a Buddhist meditation technique. Focuses your aggression. The monks used to do it before going into battle"
posted by Hardcore Poser at 10:53 PM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I remember laughing at this, but also being so upset about the dogs and the fish that I didn't want to see it again. I was very young at the time but I'm not sure if I've changed my mind.It's not as good as A Fish Called Wanda but you might prefer Fierce Creatures, made a few years later and featuring much of the same cast but playing different characters and with a wholly unrelated plot.
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:39 PM on October 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Playing homophobia for laughs hasn't aged well but much of the remainder of the film holds up and the best parts of still sparkle and shine.
Kevin Kline's Oscar was a surprise - not because it wasn't deserved but because the Oscars very, very rarely give even the best comedic performances the respect they deserve.
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:43 PM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Kevin Kline's Oscar was a surprise - not because it wasn't deserved but because the Oscars very, very rarely give even the best comedic performances the respect they deserve.
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:43 PM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
On very, very rare occasions I use one of those "this is my reaction" things that's either a short clip or a gif - and one of my go-to's is Otto's initial reaction to finding the safe is empty and shouting "DisaPOINTED!!!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:18 AM on October 11, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:18 AM on October 11, 2022 [6 favorites]
I remember laughing at this, but also being so upset about the dogs and the fish that I didn't want to see it again. I was very young at the time but I'm not sure if I've changed my mind.
I wrote about this in my diary when I was 16 and went to see the movie with my cousin! I remember saying that I laughed through the safe that fell on the dog but I couldn't stand the part where the guy was eating the other guy's fish right in front of him, because they were his pets and he loved them and it was too sad.
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:02 AM on October 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
I wrote about this in my diary when I was 16 and went to see the movie with my cousin! I remember saying that I laughed through the safe that fell on the dog but I couldn't stand the part where the guy was eating the other guy's fish right in front of him, because they were his pets and he loved them and it was too sad.
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:02 AM on October 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yeah, literally everything great about this movie was ruined for me because of the animal harm.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:48 AM on October 11, 2022
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:48 AM on October 11, 2022
George Thomason (Tom Georgeson)
Yeah, how did I never notice this?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:58 PM on October 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yeah, how did I never notice this?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:58 PM on October 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Um, everyone is aware that no animals were actually killed in filming, right? Even the fish were made out of Jello. Kevin Kline says he offered to eat live fish, but the producers declined. (Kline was declined.)
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 11:43 AM on October 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 11:43 AM on October 12, 2022 [4 favorites]
Even if you intellectually know that "no animals were actually harmed in filming", it's very common to be emotionally invested enough that the in-story depiction of it could cause distress. Not sure why this is confusing to you.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:47 AM on October 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:47 AM on October 12, 2022 [3 favorites]
it's very common to be emotionally invested enough that the in-story depiction of it could cause distress
Exactly. And I think my distress was more for poor K-K-K-Ken, seeing his pets eaten, than for the fish themselves. That was empathy created through emotional investment in an actor getting it right, jello fish or no.
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:09 PM on October 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Exactly. And I think my distress was more for poor K-K-K-Ken, seeing his pets eaten, than for the fish themselves. That was empathy created through emotional investment in an actor getting it right, jello fish or no.
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:09 PM on October 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
"AssHOLE" is still something I say after some kind of driving altercation. Though it's never my fault of course.
I feel like this movie is a bit too dry in a few parts, but Otto is such a great ridiculous chaos clown that it still works beautifully.
posted by fleacircus at 4:43 AM on October 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
I feel like this movie is a bit too dry in a few parts, but Otto is such a great ridiculous chaos clown that it still works beautifully.
posted by fleacircus at 4:43 AM on October 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Um, everyone is aware that no animals were actually killed in filming, right?
Yes, it's just a movie. But scary movies can still be scary even if we know that isn't really a serial killer in a ski mask RIGHT BEHIND YOU TURN AROUND YOU IDIOT OH GOD
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 7:55 AM on October 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yes, it's just a movie. But scary movies can still be scary even if we know that isn't really a serial killer in a ski mask RIGHT BEHIND YOU TURN AROUND YOU IDIOT OH GOD
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 7:55 AM on October 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Somehow, I had forgotten how ridiculously good-looking Kline and Curtis are in this.
I mean, always, but this film in particular.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:07 AM on October 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I mean, always, but this film in particular.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:07 AM on October 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
This movie was where I began noticing that generally Kevin Kline with facial hair = comedy, Kevin Kline klean shaven = drama.
I sometimes wish I had the kind of face that would predispose people to chortle if I turned up with a moustache.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:16 AM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I sometimes wish I had the kind of face that would predispose people to chortle if I turned up with a moustache.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:16 AM on October 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Kevin Kline with facial hair = comedy, Kevin Kline klean shaven = drama
With some exceptions, Robin Williams was the opposite: beard=drama.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:35 PM on October 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
With some exceptions, Robin Williams was the opposite: beard=drama.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:35 PM on October 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
The movie Wild, Wild West was an exception to the Kevin Kline rule (he was clean-shaven), except it wasn't because the movie wasn't funny.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 6:01 PM on October 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 6:01 PM on October 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
Well where does Sophie's Choice fit in, then? He's got a mustache in that one. Certainly his relationship with Streep's character is dramatic, but on the other hand, Peter MacNicol is a joke.
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:18 AM on October 15, 2022
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:18 AM on October 15, 2022
Just watched last night and loved the Stephen Fry cameo at the end!
posted by Carillon at 6:04 PM on November 10, 2023
posted by Carillon at 6:04 PM on November 10, 2023
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[bulldozer]
"....ooooooo!"
posted by porpoise at 10:07 AM on October 10, 2022 [2 favorites]