Desperately Seeking Susan

1985

Desperately Seeking Susan

Critics Consensus

Desperately Seeking Susan works with its fairy tale depiction of New York and the fun, frothy chemistry generated by its two leads.

85%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 27

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Movie Info

A petite New Jersey housewife finds self-fulfillment through amnesia in this new wave comedy of errors set in New York's hip '80s downtown scene. Rosanna Arquette stars as Roberta, who turns to the personals for vicarious thrills after her four-year marriage to staid hot tub salesman Gary (Mark Blum) grows stale. Her favorite classified ads trace the romance of Jim (Robert Joy), a struggling musician, and Susan (Madonna), a SoHo vamp who's just narrowly escaped being murdered alongside one of her other boyfriends -- a gangster who recently stole some Egyptian jewelry. Through a series of complicated missteps, Roberta ends up losing her memory and convincing both herself and a broodingly handsome young man named Dez (Aiden Quinn) that she's the elusive, adventurous Susan. Soon, Roberta finds herself being romanced by Dez and pursued separately by her husband, Jim, Susan, and by a murderous mobster who's looking for the stolen jewels. For her second feature outing, which was partially inspired by Jacques Rivette's Celine and Julie Go Boating, director Susan Seidelman filled her cast with hipster extras, downtown personalities, and New York thespians. Notable faces include comedian Steven Wright; future indie mainstay John Turturro; future TV stars Michael Badalucco and Laurie Metcalf; punk singer Richard Hell, who also starred in Seidelman's Smithereens; and performance artist Ann Magnunson, who would star in the director's Making Mr. Right. The big dance-club sequence was filmed at Danceteria, the disco that helped launch Madonna's career. The scene, and the film, helped propel "Into the Groove," one of the singer's all-time club classics, into the charts even though it was actually a b-side to the single "Angel." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (adult situations/language, nudity, violence)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama, Romance
  • Directed By:
    Susan Seidelman
  • Written By:
    Leora Barish, Craig Bolotin
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $27,400,000
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    MGM Home Entertainment

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Cast

Madonna
as Susan
Rosanna Arquette
as Roberta Glass/'Susan'
Aidan Quinn
as Dez
Mark Blum
as Gary Glass
Robert Jay
Robert Joy
as Jim
Laurie Metcalf
as Leslie
Anna Levine
as Crystal
Will Patton
as Nolan
Peter Maloney
as Ian
Steven Wright
as Larry
John Turturro
as Ray
Anne Carlisle
as Victoria
Jose Santana
as Boutique Owner
Giancarlo Esposito
as Street Vendor
Richard Hell
as Meeker
Rockets Redglare
as Taxi Driver
Billy Hopkins
Daisy Bradford
as Daisy
Steve Bosh
as Newscaster
Annie Golden
as Band Singer
Ann Magnuson
as Cigarette Girl
John Lurie
as Neighbor Saxophonist
Mary Joy
as Cocktail Waitress
Rosemary Hochschild
as Cocktail Waitress
Iris Chacon
as TV Singer
Victor Argo
as Sgt. Taskal
Shirley Stoler
as Jail Matron
J.B. Waters
as Jail Matron
Arto Lindsay
as Newspaper Clerk
Michael R. Chin
as Choy
Patrick John Hurley
as Policeman
Paul Austin
as Policeman
Timothy Carhart
as Victoria's Boy Friend
Curt Dempster
as Coffee Shop Manager
Shirley Kaplan
as Waitress
Henry Adler
as Magic Club Drummer
Lázaro Pérez
as Enrique the Guard
Marty Gold
as Magic Club Pianist
Alvy West
as Magic Club Saxophonist
John Hoyt
as Space Commander
Joyce Griffen
as Prostitute
Richard S. Lowy
as Adrian the Hairdresser
Donna Ritchie
as Hot Tub Girl
Kim Chan
as Park Bum
Michael Badalucco
as Guy from Brooklyn
Harsh Nayyar
as Egyptian Diplomat
Keita Whitten
as Store Customer
Adele Bertei
as Prisoner
Gary Binkow
as Band Member
Peter Castellotti
as Coffee Shop Cop
Gilda Torterello
as Ray's Mom
Stanley Burns
as Ventriloquist
Richard Edson
as Man with Newspapers
Gary Ray
as Band Member
Wendy Dasteel
as Party Guest
Elie J. Boubli
as Egyptian Ambassador
Steve Eidel
as Party Guest
Michael Herz & Llyod Kaufman
as Party Guest
Ilene Kristen
as Party Guest
Carol Leifer
as Party Guest
Richard Portnow
as Party Guest
Isabel Lorca
as Party Guest
Michael Bramon
as Band Member
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Critic Reviews for Desperately Seeking Susan

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (7)

  • An attractive, energetic young cast and some witty, off-center visual humor make the resultant laughs more than worth the wait.

    Apr 9, 2019 | Full Review…

    Kirk Ellis

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • More central to the popularity of "Susan" is the way it allows the audience to feel hip.

    Jan 2, 2018 | Full Review…

    Paul Attanasio

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • "Desperately Seeking Susan" (accurately rated PG-13) is a lark, an exhilarating celebration of people who have the good sense to be in touch with themselves and with each other.

    Dec 6, 2017 | Full Review…

    Kevin Thomas

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • All of this is cause for consistent smiling and a few outright laughs, without ever building to complete comedy.

    May 23, 2008 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • The film acquires a pleasant, syncopated rhythm as it bounces from one unlikely event to another.

    May 23, 2008 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Even if the plotting (a mistaken identity farce involving that old chestnut, amnesia brought on by a bump to the head) is square as a square peg. Madonna has never found a better fit than the role of Susan.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (27)

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