“How very interesting. You’re a true vulgarian, aren’t you?”

Justin’s rating: Omega-3 power!

Justin’s review: Any time I admit that I actually prefer Fierce Creatures to A Fish Called Wanda, I’m met with stares of incredulity and pity. Granted, that’s normally how people look at me, but I can’t help but apply those looks to my filmatic preference. But here’s the thing: I totally and completely love Wanda. It’s not that I think it’s a terrible movie at all. I simply groove with its ’90s pseudo-sequel a little bit more, and that, my friends, is how subjective taste works.

However, I realize we’ve dropped the ball here at Mutant Reviewers by neglecting one of the great ’80s comedies in this space, so let’s make all things right in the universe again. Because, yes, A Fish Called Wanda was an amazing fusion of a backstabbing heist, Monty Pytbon actors, British humor, and American gags into one laugh-a-minute package.

It certainly didn’t hurt this film’s meteoric rise at the box office to be saddled with a great line-up. There’s Jamie Lee Curtis, who I always think did better with sly comedy than slashers, playing the titular Wanda* as a saucy femme fatale. Kevin Kline is the extremely volatile Otto, Michael Palin is stuttering and animal-loving Ken, and the fabulous John Cleese is an English barrister named Archie who’s in a loveless marriage.

As the curtain rises, a jewel heist is in the works in London. While it’s successful, the team can’t leave the area for a few days and their leader George is arrested. In the fallout, Wanda, Otto, and Ken resort to double-crosses, secret plans, and a play for the key that gains access to the deposit box holding the diamonds.

Things quickly spiral out of control when Wanda decides to seduce George’s lawyer, Archie, for information. He quickly falls in love with her, and to her surprise, Wanda shows signs of feeling the same in response. Granted, everyone in this movie is in love with Wanda, but this unexpected romcom meet-cute becomes the heart of the film. With a lot of rising tension and twists and turns, the question of how any of this might be resolved is anyone’s guess.

The heist is really just a catalyst to pitting all of these colorful characters against — and for — each other. That’s where this excellent cast truly makes this film, because there’s not a weak spot in the foursome. The Monty Python veterans are my favorites, though. Michael Palin does a lot with few words and a wholesomely pure love for every animal on the planet, and John Cleese is an acting treasure sent to us from heaven. We were never good enough for him.

Archie is the one truly innocent figure who gets drawn into this whole caper and corrupted in all the best ways. Seeing his unflappable British demeanor get flapped is a delight, but so is the fact that he’s not the butt of the joke. Archie is set up as a patsy, but his romantic connection with Wanda and some Hobbit-like depths of character helps him come into his own as a leading man.

There are so many amazing jokes spread out between clever quips, hilarious exchanges, absurd visuals, and subtle gags that A Fish Called Wanda feels like a sumptuous meal of comedy. My absolute favorite running joke is Ken’s attempt to kill an elderly witness… only to keep accidentally murdering her dogs and racking up an impressive amount of injuries, both physical and psychological.

This time around watching it, I loved seeing how Wanda gradually falls in love with Archie despite trying to use him. Her surprise is genuine after so much fakery, and that’s a lot of fun to behold.

This was back when comedies had bite and weren’t afraid of some offense, and that freedom gives A Fish Called Wanda the latitude to be funny without fear. It’s just a shame that this crew didn’t keep getting together for more spiritual sequels after the ’90s, but at least we got a pair of amazing classics out of the deal.

*There’s also a fish version of Wanda, but that one has fewer speaking parts.

Intermission!

• I like how the starring credits play against the actual actors
• Shooting an alarm clock is a valid response to being woken up
• Wanda hits Otto, Otto squeezes her boob. It’s a funny little moment.
• The seal gets knifed between the eyes!
• “He’s not fit for dog meat, can I change him please, dad?”
• Otto putting the apple on the guy’s head and preparing to shoot it with a crossbow
• I love Kevin Kline slipping between accents
• Otto using the toilet with his pants on
• “You’ve got wonderful bones, great eyes, and you’re dressed really interestingly.”
• “I want you to make love to me.” “Pardon?”
• “Do shut up, Portia!”
• The brilliant scene that cuts between the married couple getting ready for bed and Otto/Wanda making out (and what’s with that boot?)
• Wanda doing the fake blinking when she takes off her glasses is a great acting choice
• Don’t call Otto stupid. Ever.
• The big dog grabbing and carrying away the little dog had me rolling on the ground every time I see it
• “They get rigor mortis in the prime of life in this country.”
• “I’m a good lover. At least I used to be, back in the early 14th century.”
• “Are you TOTALLY deranged?”
• That is one flattened dog!
• “I’ve known sheep that could outwit you!”
• “The central message of Buddhism is not every man for himself!”
• Archie destroying a statue in his house that he hates and then pumping his fist
• “So the loot’s at the airport, Ken?”
• Remember when you had to clarify whether you wanted a smoking or non-smoking seat on a plane?
• Ken on the luggage conveyer — nothing good will come of that
• You could fire a LOT of bullets at an airport in 1988 and nobody would worry
• Dude, you’re going to be tracking a LOT of waste oil onto that plane