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A Fish Called Wanda
By Elliot Panek,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Crime caper has a wicked edge, lots of mature humor.

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A Fish Called Wanda
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Hilarious, racy movie, most teens can handle it...
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What's the Story?
After pulling off a daring daylight diamond heist, a team of theives -- including sexy Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis), unpredicatable Otto (Kevin Kline), and mild-mannered Ken (Michael Palin) -- starts double-crossing one another in order to claim the loot for themselves. An unsuspecting barrister (John Cleese) gets pulled into the fray, and as lying begets more lying, it all turns into a delightfully loopy farce.
Is It Any Good?
A FISH CALLED WANDA is a British crime caper that features a comedic tour de force performance by Kline. Cleese's character is a distant cousin to the one he played in beloved Britcom Fawlty Towers, a brow-beaten husband whose efforts to hide an indiscretion result in hilarity. These familiar situations benefit immensely from Cleese's skill; he carries off such scenes with aplomb.
Kline, though, is the real star here -- his elevation of obnoxiousness to a high art won him a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar. His amalgamation of overconfidence and kinetic energy is so extreme, his shifts in manner from faux-Buddhist to faux-Italian so abrupt, that you can't help but laugh. Without him, the movie would be a bit plain, with the familiar twists and turns of the double-cross jewel-thief escapade. But with him, it's a comedy treat sure to entertain Monty Python fans and British humor enthusiasts alike.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the characters. Are any of them intended to be role models? If not, are they still sympathetic? Why? How do movies get us to root for "bad" guys?
What kind of consequences would these characters face in real life for their actions?
Do you find this movie funny or over the top? Why do you think different people find different things funny?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 7, 1988
- On DVD or streaming: February 3, 2000
- Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis , John Cleese , Kevin Kline
- Director: Charles Crichton
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: MGM/UA
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 108 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Award: Academy Award
- Last updated: July 24, 2023
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