A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda

John Cleese
Director: Charles Crichton Cast: John Cleese
John Cleese
, Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis
, Kevin Kline
Kevin Kline
Charles Crichton

Overview

A very funny film from Monty Python regulars John Cleese and Michael Palin, A Fish Called Wanda in its current DVD format is a bare-bones release with very few extras. The disc is two-sided, with a decent widescreen transfer on one side and a standard full-screen transfer on the other. As most comedies are 1:85 format, however, the black bars on top and bottom are minimal, resulting in no noticeable difference between the two sides. Even the Dolby Digital Audio is Mono. The most exciting extra on this disc is the "Wanda" screensaver that turns the television screen into a fish tank for a few minutes. Viewers can watch the computer-animated fish float around, blowing bubbles and looping the same path. Finally the disc comes with an eight-page color booklet featuring production notes, which is simplistic at best. Even the single theatrical trailer is nothing more than standard on this disc. Overall, this disc feels like a rental for first-time viewers of the film, not a true collector's prize. Language and subtitles are in English and French.

Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide

One of the best black comedies of the 1980s, A Fish Called Wanda revels in poking fun at stereotypes: neither British nor Americans are ever completely off the hook. Representing the Yanks, Jamie Lee Curtis finally received a role worthy of her ample comic sensibilities, and Kevin Kline's antagonistic wackiness secured him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. For the Brits, scene-stealer Michael Palin and lead/co-scripter John Cleese display a wit and spontaneity not seen since their Monty Python years. Co-writer/director Charles Crichton had previously proven his skills with the classic 1951 crime farce The Lavender Hill Mob, and Wanda is every bit the classic that film was. Lampooning as many sacred cows as it does, Wanda is bound to put off some viewers; but it's hard to take too much offense at a film where all the characters eventually get theirs.

Product Details

Release Date: 03/23/1999
UPC: 0027616626622
Original Release: 1988
Rating: R
Source: Mgm (Video & Dvd)
Region Code: 1
Presentation: [Full Frame, Wide Screen]
Sound: [Dolby Digital, monaural]
Time: 1:48:00
Sales rank: 3,282

Customer Reviews