Common Sense Media Review
Crime caper has a wicked edge, lots of mature humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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A Fish Called Wanda
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is hilariously funny and features a stellar cast, but it contains heavy sexual references, strong language, and some cartoonish violence, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While many enjoy its humor, there are warnings about its lack of positive role models and its treatment of sensitive topics like animal deaths and personal relationships.
- funny
- inappropriate for kids
- strong language
- sexual content
- dark comedy
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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 Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Academy Award
- Last updated : April 12, 2026
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