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View Full Version : Comedy Should be Good - A Fish Called Wanda



SUPERECWFAN1
03-20-2011, 11:33 AM
I admit ...I am a big comedy fan. My friends are into horror movies. But me I have never been a big horror fan , but for me..its comedy flicks I love. So each week or month ill run down a fun comedy film and why its so damn good.

To start us...



http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk119/lint_clouds/Deuxieme/A_Fish_Called_Wanda_DVD.jpg

The brief plot summary:


London-based gangster George Thompson (Tom Georgeson) and his right-hand man, Ken Pile (Michael Palin), a beleaguered animal lover with a bad stutter, plan a jewel heist. They bring in two Americans to help: an alluring con artist, Wanda Gerschwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) and their "weapons man" Otto West (Kevin Kline), an Anglophobe who fancies himself as an intellectual. Wanda and Otto are lovers, but hide this fact from George and Ken so Wanda can work her charms on them.

Ok its what happens after the heist that makes this comedy so much fun. So its the collapse of the plan after the heist and all the players involved. Plus how Cleese comes into it.


Why is it good ? : This one has 2 former Monty Python members John Cleese and Michael Palin involved. And with a hot Kevin Kline who really is just as funny ..its like a bank heist movie Python style. Cleese and Charles Crichton were nominated for best screen play as well.

Kline is amazing and won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role. And as an American he jells so well with Cleese and Palin that you feel he is a Python member . Just an American member of the comedy group.

The character of Otto is supposed to be a bad guy. But the way Kline portrays him is someone who really wants to be regarded as a intellectual . He of course isn't and fails in every way as evidenced by the fact Otto in the entire movie drives on the wrong side of the road in London and tells Curtis character to "Not call me stupied."

Michael Palin himself as a stuttering neurotic character named Ken is funny just as a character. During the movie Ken gets told to kill an old lady who is a witness against his friend involved in the bank heist. The entire movie has poor Ken accidently kill every dog the old lady has along the way til he causes the woman to have a heart attack.

Curtis as Wanda is a very smart female con artist and you wonder thru the movie does she love any of the men involved. From George to Otto , to Archie. She even to get ahead of poor Ken kisses him. So Wanda herself is always wanting to get ahead and get the big money .

Cleese as Archie is a straight man basically thru the movie. But he works very well as a straight man to Otto hanging him upside down and beating his ass dressed as a burgler. To the point where he tries to get Palin's "Ken" to reveal where Otto and Wanda have went .

The entire cast was well chosen for this. Each one has a moment to shine and its rare to see it. Plus even if the film is over 20 years old , as a comedy it still shines today.


Why is it Bad ? - Theres really no bad parts in "A Fish Called Wanda" honestly. Those who are British may get tired of Kline's character being an insulting guy , but thats how he's supposed to be.


Quote of the movie :

Kline as Otto : "You pompous, stuck-up, snot-nosed, English, giant, twerp, scumbag, fuck-face, dickhead, asshole."


Overall : If you like fun group comedies then check out this film. Its currently on Netflix streaming so you should all give it a shot. Even you old Monty Python fans.

BillR
03-20-2011, 07:48 PM
I enjoyed this quite a bit when I watched it a few months back.

How about the "follow-up," Fierce Creatures? Is that one any good?

SUPERECWFAN1
03-21-2011, 12:34 PM
I enjoyed this quite a bit when I watched it a few months back.

How about the "follow-up," Fierce Creatures? Is that one any good?

Well I wanna wait to review it next week. So you will see what I say about Fierce Creatures.

rick
03-21-2011, 12:39 PM
Wanda is just one of the great comedies ever made.

As close to perfect as a farce can get.

I especially love the in-joke with the name of the Cleese character, Archie Leach.

Or as he was better known in movies, Cary Grant.

Lord Bravery
03-21-2011, 12:39 PM
A Fish Called Wanda is probably my favourite movie ever. I LOVE Otto and Ken. Palin and Kline own this movie. The scene where Ken is trying to tell Archie where Otta and Wanda have gone near the end is probably one of the greatest comedy moments ever. Also the whole sub plot with Ken trying to kill the old woman... jesus, i gotta watch this movie now.

Fun fact: Someone actually died of laughter whilst watching this movie when it first came out.

dupersuper
03-22-2011, 12:45 AM
Fun fact: Someone actually died of laughter whilst watching this movie when it first came out.

Maybe they snuck in part of the old Monty Python deadly joke...

CyberCoyote
03-24-2011, 06:32 PM
Streaming on Netflix? Awesome. One of the single funniest films ever made, had I known it was streaming I'd have been watching it right now instead of five minutes from now.

It's K-k-k-k-en! He's C-c-c-coming t-t-to k-k-kill me!