A Fish Called Wanda (1988) Review

My Rating: 8/10

Directed By: John Cleese and Charles Crichton

Screenplay By: John Cleese and Charles Crichton

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, John Cleese

Genre: Comedy

Runtime: 107 Minutes

A fish Called Wanda is one of the finest British comedies that exist and is outrageously comical. The name is genius and when the film is over you’ll understand why it has this odd title. Good old John Cleese is in there too, who seems to be one of the best comedy actors around. He was brilliant in the Monty Python Films, funny in the hit TV show Faulty Towers, and he does brilliant here. The film has some of the finest blend of comedy I’ve seen, and it’s a very clever and complex film. It’s full of comedy action, complex writing and a hell of a lot of double crossing.

Wanda with Otto

Plot:

The film opens with four characters doing a bank heist. We have Wanda, her supposed brother Otto, stuttering Ken and George. They have a plan to rob some very expensive jewels and flee the country, but a lot of double crossing goes on so that’s where the enjoyable complexity comes in. You could say it’s Wanda an Otto VS Ken and George. Now how could I even start to explain, hey rob the jewels, put it in a safe and split up? Wanda an Otto comes back to the safe and there is nothing there so they look for Archie or Ken to find out where they are. The film is complete madness and soon Wanda tries to get the Barrister (John Cleese) to get some information and has one of the movies finest moments. The plot is wild and you really have to watch it for yourself to understand it. The story really builds itself as it progresses so the dots are connected.

Otto (Right) and Ken (one with chips up nose)

Clever & Creative Comedy and Crazy Characters

I don’t know about you, but the comedy was genius to me! A great screenplay combined with terrific acting from everyone. I don’t know what scene I liked more, the one where Archie is found naked y the family or when Wanda is at his house and his wife comes back. The way Cleese was acting in that scene was brilliant. I especially loved the part where his wife closed the cupboard door where Wanda was hiding and he screams. She isn’t there so she obviously moved. Overall the comedy in this film is highly enjoyable and very clever. The characters where superb, we have Ken, the guy with the worst stutter I’ve ever seen who loves his fish [one being called Wanda] and then we have Otto. 

Otto is fake brother of Wanda and is American. Eventually in the film he gets pissed off at English people calling them stuck up and of course, bringing up the war. I don’t care much for war and who did what, but it was just funny with the reactions and retaliations. Otto is clearly the character who steals the show when it comes to memorable lines. Wanda was a terrific [and sexy] character who seems to get turned on by foreign languages. There really isn’t much to say about George because he doesn’t really do anything, he’s in prison most of the time.

Overall:

I love how the film ends; it just felt right and made me laugh. I will not spoil it for you though. The film is extremely well written as I’ve said but if it weren’t for the fine acting the film wouldn’t have been as memorable. You have to check this one out because out in for one hilarious and exciting journey. Director Charles Crichton did a terrific job, and even John Cleese was there to assist. The direction was great and the overall chemistry between the characters was excellent. A fish called Wanda is a divine comedy film and if I were to make my Top 15 Comedy list now, this would have been in it. Overall it’s a must see British comedy classic full of crazy characters and comedy all over.

Ratings:

Story/Screenplay: 9/10
Direction & Cinematography: 8.8

Characters: 8.9/10

Emotion: 8.4/10

Visual & Editing: 8.5/10

Music: 8.5/10