A Fish Called Wanda

Watch A Fish Called Wanda

"A tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge, and seafood."
  • R
  • 1988
  • 1 hr 48 min
  • 7.5  (153,042)
  • 80

A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 heist-comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by John Cleese. The movie stars John Cleese as Archie Leach, a barrister who gets caught up in a diamond heist with a band of eccentric criminals. The other members of the gang include Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), Otto West (Kevin Kline) and Ken Pile (Michael Palin). The film was a critical and commercial success, earning Academy Award nominations for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Kevin Kline, who won the award.

The movie begins with the gang planning to rob a jewelry store in London. Archie is unaware of their plans, and his involvement with the gang is accidental. Wanda seduces Archie to find out where the diamonds are hidden, and she begins to manipulate him by pretending to be fond of him. Archie falls in love with her but is unaware that she is only using him.

Things get complicated when Wanda decides to betray Otto, who is her lover. Wanda and Otto are not a good match, and Otto is a blustering, gauche man who becomes enraged when he learns that Wanda has been using him. Things become even more dangerous when Ken, who is responsible for transporting the diamonds, inadvertently reveals their location to Wanda.

The movie features a lot of physical comedy and slapstick humor as the characters bumble their way through the heist. One of the standout scenes involves Otto, who is a bit dim, torturing Archie by pushing him into a fish tank. The fish tank becomes a running joke throughout the film, and Cleese incorporates a lot of amusing fish-related puns throughout the script.

Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a standout performance as Wanda, who is an intelligent and manipulative criminal. She uses her charm and beauty to get what she wants, but as the movie progresses, we see her character shift and become more vulnerable.

Michael Palin gives a fantastic performance as Ken, who is a stuttering, animal-loving member of the gang who is often overlooked by the others. Palin's physical comedy is on full display, and he steals most of the scenes he appears in. Kevin Kline won an Academy Award for his role as Otto, and it's easy to see why. Otto is a boorish, loudmouthed jerk who is a thorn in the side of the other members of the gang. Kline plays him with such relish that he is impossible not to watch.

John Cleese delivers a solid performance as Archie, who is a bit of a foppish buffoon. He spends most of the movie getting manipulated by the other characters, but his moments of triumph are quite satisfying. The movie's script is full of witty one-liners and clever wordplay, and Cleese's signature dry humor is apparent throughout.

Overall, A Fish Called Wanda is a hilarious heist-comedy film that will have you laughing throughout. The characters are all memorable, and the movie's pacing is tight, ensuring that there's never a dull moment. This movie is a must-see for fans of comedy and anyone who enjoys a good caper film.

A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 80.

A Fish Called Wanda
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Where to Watch A Fish Called Wanda
A Fish Called Wanda is available to watch free on The Roku Channel Free, Pluto TV and Tubi TV. It's also available to stream, download and buy on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV Channels, FuboTV, The Roku Channel, EPIX, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent A Fish Called Wanda for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1988
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 48 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.5  (153,042)
  • Metascore
    80
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