A Fish Called Wanda
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
"To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!"
The story in this film is pretty thin for the most part, which is the case with most comedies of the era. The story and plot are really just a way to string together all of the foolishness, which is the film's main point. So basically, what I'm saying is, you're not coming to a movie like this for the plot; you're coming for the hijinx. That being said, this is not a "mindless" comedy. John Cleese, who co-wrote it, was (and still is God bless him) one of the smartest guys in comedy, and the film is dripping with dry English wit.
Unlike a similar comedy movie of the time, Disorganized Crime, the heist is not the main focus of this film. In fact, the heist is pulled off quite early in the film, and it's the aftermath that the story focuses on. This is where we get ridiculous double-crosses on double-crosses to a point where you're not quite sure who is on who's side. Much of the film's comedy comes from these scenes, particularly in the third act, where everything just goes off the rails (in a good way).
As mentioned, the humor in the film is decidedly dry and is, at times, very subtle. While the film has its share of slapstick moments (Ken's futile attempts to lock off a key witness being some of the better ones), the film relies on the fantastic comic timing of the assembled cast. For me, most of my heartiest laughs came from the dialogue rather than the silly slapstick moments. Like most comedies, though, in the end, all I care about is whether it made me laugh, and this film certainly did.
Acting/Characters:
This is a great cast led by the always-on-point John Cleese, who is, at this point, a comedy legend. As Archie Leach, Cleese does what he's best at, playing the uptight straight man surrounded by all sorts of nonsense, who eventually succumbs to the silliness himself. That's really the best description for the character, and Cleese's deadpan delivery makes him a definite highlight of the film. For most of the first two acts, Cleese plays Archie as a man stuck in a rut. Trapped in a comfortable yet boring marriage and stuck in an uninteresting job. He's really an object of pity at the start of the film. However, once he becomes embroiled in the foolishness, he eventually cuts loose, and it's a wonderful thing to see.
Michale Palin also deserves some recognition as the stuttering Ken Pile, who is also driven over the edge by the events around him. Palin, and the film, took a bit of heat because some people thought it was making fun of stutterers. I don't think that was Palin's intent as his own father suffered from a stutter. Honestly, some of the movie's funniest moments come from Ken struggling to get his point across, with no luck.
The high point of the film, from an acting standpoint, is definitely Kevin Kline's unhinged portrayal of Otto West. Otto views himself as an intellectual, reading books on philosophy and meditation, but he's actually quite stupid (don't call him stupid). However, when you combine his stupidity with rash arrogance, you get some damn fine comedy. Whether it's his laughable attempts at speaking Italian or his romantic advances towards Ken or his frequent bouts of inattention, Kline really hits it out of the comedic park. The performance was so good it earned Kline an Oscar for best supporting actor, which is rare for a goofy comedy. Top marks.
The rest of the cast ranges from adequate to great, with the only other major player being Jamie Lee Curtis, who does a great job as the duplicitous Wanda. Curtis takes on the role of a femme-fatale well. In addition, Wanda's various quirks (such as being aroused by hearing foreign languages) add enough goofiness to make her a legitimately funny character.
Visual/Special Effects:
Not much to see here. There aren't any special effects, and the film isn't particularly interesting visually. Moving on...
Score/Music:
The music for the film, composed by John Du Prez, is likewise unremarkable. However, it's certainly a product of its time and dates the movie a fair bit. However, there really wasn't anything that stuck out about the score that really stayed with me. It really reminded me of elevator music.
Action:
There's some action in this film, which is not too bad, considering it's a comedy, rather than an action film. The action scenes seem quick and dirty, almost like an episode of Flying Circus but with more budget. Most of the action scenes are played for comic effect, with my personal favorites being Ken's aforementioned attempts to kill an old lady (but accidentally killing her dogs instead) and Otto's ill-advised attempts to foil a robbery at Archie's house. If you rate the scenes based on their action, they're underwhelming, but as comic devices, they're spot on.
Final Verdict:
I still love this movie. It's everything Python was: smart and silly in equal measures and a hell of a lot of fun. Monty Python fans should definitely see this movie, as should fans of British humor.
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