A Fish Called Wanda (1988) - five stars

[Dave (imported)]

I forgot how much fun this movie is.

A completely, utterly crazy comedy about thieves and their London Barrister.

John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, and a host of great character actors.

A gang plans a robbery and they each plan a double cross of the other three. One gets arrested and their barrister, John Cleese, gets involved in the craziness. Kevin Kline is completely mad. Michael Palin has a stutter. Several doggies die (no real animals were hurt, but you will laugh), Jamie Lee Curtis gets to be half-naked and sex-crazed most of the time. and once in his life - John Cleese - plays a romantic lead named Archibald Leach.

Just abandon yourself to the lunacy involved in the screenplay and don't worry about the plot too much. It's all fun and you do meet Wanda.

"Sexy American diamonds lover Wanda and her boyfriend Otto are in England to plot alongside George and Ken the robbery of a diamond collection. Wanda and Otto want the stolen diamonds for themselves, and inform the police about George not knowing that he has already moved the diamonds to another secret place. Wanda thinks the best way to find out is by getting close to George's lawyer - Archie Leach"

[StefanIsMe (imported)]

Oh, no! K-K-K-K-Ken's coming to k-k-k-k-k-k-kill me!

Gods, I loved this movie!!

[Riverwind (imported)]

Yes I forgot about this movie, I will put it on my watch list as you are right it was great fun.

I think the John Cheese character was a tribute to a great actor leading man Cary Grant who's real name was Archibald Leach.

River

[Dave (imported)]

..

. I think the John Cheese character was a tribute to a great actor leading man Cary Grant who's real

was Archibald Leach...

Yes. That's one of the references to other movies and actors. There's a few hidden in the story.

The court scenes reference "Witness For The Prosecution" which was one of the great movies by Billy Wilder and had an all star cast.

[Losethem (imported)]

Anyone notice the address of the woman with the little dog?

[gareth19 (imported)]

and once in his life - John Cleese - plays a romantic lead named Archibald Leach.

There was a second time, in a movie called Love and the Double Bass John Cleese starred as the romantic lead alongside then wife Connie Booth.

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

That was a funny movie but it's been a long time since I've seen it. Wasn't it suggested in the story that Jamie Lee Curtis' character was in an incestuous relationship with her brother? I don't remember who played the brother but I think he had a moustache.

[Dave (imported)]

That was a funny movie but it's been a long time since I've seen it. Wasn't it suggested in the story that Jamie Lee Curtis' character was in an incestuous relationship with her brother? I don't remember who played the brother but I think he had a moustache.

Kevin Kline is the actor you are thinking of. . . You might remember as the Pirate King in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE or as Harold in THE BIG CHILL or Nathan in SOPHIE'S CHOICE. He's also in several Shakespeare plays on film.

Wanda and Otto tell the two British crooks (Tom Georgeson and Michael Palin) that they are brother and sister but all the while they are just two crooks who screw like minks when they are alone. Or that's what we are led to believe. There is a great sequence that shows Klein and Curtis getting into sex (which is in itself hysterically awful) and John Cleese and his prudish wife (Maria Aitken) mirroring their actions in separate beds. IT's a very satiric mirror that is held up to what Archie Leach experiences as a loveless and rather bitter, social climbing marriage and the supposedly wanton frolics of Otto and Wanda.

There is a scene with Michael Palin being tied and questioned by Kevin Kline and Palin's character has a stutter and a whole mess of chips (french fries). It is so politically incorrect and funny that the movie documents one man died laughing at it. This is great farce and it makes fun of so much of society in a very witty way.

[Dave (imported)]

There was a second time, in a movie called Love and the Double Bass John Cleese starred as the romantic lead alongside then wife Connie Booth.

I remember John Cleese from FAWLTY TOWERS and Monty Python.

I still sink into giggly mirth and laughter at certain episodes of Fawlty Towers. Think "The Germans" or the greasy handprint, or anytime someone says "kipper" . . .

[Riverwind (imported)]

I just ordered my blue-ray copy from Amazon it was about $8. I should get it in a week or so.

River