A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Sadly Over-hyped

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

Set in London four thieves have planned a diamond heist; they are Englishmen Ken and George and American 'brother and sister' Otto and Wendy. The heist is a success but then Otto and Wendy turn on the others by reporting George to the police; unfortunately for them he has moved the jewels to a safety deposit box and given the key to Ken. Now the serous plotting begins; Ken is tasked with eliminating a key witness against George while Wendy attempts to seduce his barrister to try to learn if Georges has mentioned the location of the jewels… Otto just makes everything worse.This '80s comedy is as funny as every despite being almost thirty years old… some humour, like sticking chips up somebody's nose, doesn't go out of style. The story is relatively simple; for the most part the humour comes from the great characters. Kevin Kline is hilarious as the terminally stupid Otto; a man who thinks he is an intellectual and almost guarantees that their plans fail. Michael Palin is on great form as the stuttering Ken; an animal lover who keeps accidentally killing his target's terriers. His fellow Python John Cleese really impresses as Archie Leach, the initially stuffy barrister who falls for Wendy, played by the excellent Jamie Lee Curtis. The humour is varied so if one gag doesn't amuse you the next probably will… although I suspect most of them will amuse most viewers. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to any adult wanting a good laugh; some of the content means it isn't really suitable for younger viewers.

"A Fish called Wanda" is a very British film. It tells the story of a robbery and how the participants try to gain control over the treasure, leading to a sheer chaos.As often with John Cleese, everything is a bit too loud, fast and hyperactive for me. I love how the film manages to create a chaos through the mix of very different characters but sometimes the very extrovert attempt to make the movie humorous takes the drive out of the plot a bit. The characters sometimes seem a bit too designed and don't really depict believable characters. I see that many viewers explicitly like this side of the film, just personally I don't feel it.This one is not a bad movie, don't get me wrong. It kept me interested and it is not really obvious to where it will lead, so you won't be bored and it even stood the test of time quite well. Nonetheless this is not the first movie that comes to my mind as an Oscar candidate and I have to say that there are better movies less known.

I'm not going to compare this movie with any other movie. Because the movie is a unique ride and you must watch to see how 80s comedies laid. Even today use these stuffs as materials. Cast looks so great and particularly Jamie Lee Curtis showing what 80s like. So great! Another beautiful thing is the music of 80s. Totally loved it. If you are good fan of 80s music then I'm sure this is one good venture to feel it. III don't want to spoil you with the plot or hint of it, but I can assure you this is a movie that you can enjoy anytime in the day. No big scientific stuffs OR complicated plot which can't understand. The movie is flowing without get you bored. Must watch British comedy with few thrilling moments. Sure you wont regret to spend more than one and half hours of your time for a 80s classic.

A Fish Called Wanda (1988): Dir: Charles Crichton / Cast: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken: Clever caper comedy with a title that not only references a pet, but also the woman who conned everyone and got away. Plot regards stolen jewels and the betrayal of the leader. Wanda is played by Jamie Lee Curtis who set up the betrayal along with her lover, a weapons expert named Otto, played to brilliant comic extremes by Kevin Kline. John Cleese is hilarious as barrister Archie Leach. His marriage is reduced to spite, and his teenage daughter wails for attention. Now Wanda has entrapped him for information resulting in situations resulting in him being hung upside down out a window, beat up while robbing his own house, and being caught naked by a family of four on a surprise visit. Curtis is sexy playing her options but has a weakness for erotic spoken languages. Kline provides a physical sarcasm with his jealous outbursts over Wanda until he is using a firearm to issue an apology. Michael Palin plays the animal loving Ken whose task of killing an elderly witness results is his most hilariously painful backfires. With a grand supporting cast and director Charles Crichton making his best caper since Lavender Hill Mob. Ending is wayward with humour often in questionable taste, this becomes a brilliant clash of cultures descending in a net that only Wanda can outmaneuver. Score: 8 / 10