Review of A Fish Called Wanda (1988) by Robert T — 19 Nov 2010

My favorite Comedy of all time. I have often said that great comedy comes not from cheap payoff gags, but the greatest comedy comes from dramatic Narrative.

That said, the Narrative in "A Fish Called Wanda" is plausible, if not dramatic. I noticed, while showing this film to some of my friends, the laughing didn't start at the beginning. Even while I watched it, it didn't. We are fully absorbed in the establishment of the eccentric characters and situation, and then something clicks, and we can't stop laughing.

I've noticed, nowadays comedies are simply plotless laugh-fests. While they are funny, they aren't nearly as rewarding as this film. (The Notable Exceptions, of Course, are the Python Films and Airplane!)In this film, the situation is handled dramatically by the characters, but the characters are so eccentric, and the situation so hilarious that we cannot help but laugh, and, dare I say it? Involved in the plot.

As to the characters, Kevin Kline stands out as one of the most brilliantly characterized characters in a Comedy ever. I also felt genuine sympathy for John Clease as the Barrister caught in the middle of the double crossings. Michael Palin is Brilliant with the black comedy, and he can get a laugh even when his character is dead serious. Jamie Lee Curtis acts as sort of a well-acted pinball, bouncing in between everyone else.

Overall, a brilliant, witty, funny, involving comedy, which is in my opinion, the best comedy ever made. Two thumbs Way Up!