Drowning Mona

2000

Drowning Mona

Critics Consensus

Despite Danny De Vito's top billing, Drowning Mona drowns itself in humor that never rises about sitcom level. Contributing to the Mona's problems is that the characters are never really interesting, and there is a noticeable lack of energy in the character roles

29%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 76

46%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 15,264
User image

Drowning Mona Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

Rage, jealousy, murder, and Eastern European automotive engineering combine in this offbeat black comedy. Verplanck, NY, is a small town north of Manhattan that has the dubious distinction of being the Yugo capital of America; the ill-fated import compact was first test-marketed in Verplanck, and nearly everyone in town drives one. So no one finds it unusual when a yellow Yugo is seen floating in the river, though seeing someone trapped inside is out of the ordinary. Verplanck's chief of police, Wyatt Rash (Danny De Vito), discovers that the deceased driver was a prominent local citizen, Mona Dearly (Bette Midler), and the evidence suggests that Mona's death was no accident. But the investigation into Mona's murder is hampered by one rather significant detail: nearly everyone in town hated Mona and wanted her dead. She alienated her son Jeff (Marcus Thomas) and his business partner Bobby (Casey Affleck). Bobby's girlfriend Ellen (Neve Campbell) (who is also Rash's daughter) is convinced that Mona would have tried to drive a wedge into their relationship. Mona's husband Phil (William Fichtner) couldn't stand her and fell into an affair with Rona (Jamie Lee Curtis), the waitress at the local diner. And even Rash's sidekick, Deputy Feege (Peter Dobson), spent too much time on the wrong end of Mona's temper to care that she's dead. Before long, the question is no longer who is a suspect, but who isn't? Drowning Mona was directed by Nick Gomez, who earned positive notices for his independent films New Jersey Drive and Illtown.

Watch it now

Cast

Danny DeVito
as Chief Rash
Bette Midler
as Mona Dearly
Neve Campbell
as Ellen
Jamie Lee Curtis
as Rona
Casey Affleck
as Bobby
William Fichtner
as Phil Dearly
Marcus Thomas
as Jeff Dearly
Peter Dobson
as Feege
Kathleen Wilhoite
as Lucinda
Tracey Walter
as Clarence
Paul Ben-Victor
as Tony Carlucci
Paul Schulze
as Jimmy D.
Mark Pellegrino
as Murph
Raymond O'Connor
as Father Tom
Will Ferrell
as Cubby
Nick Gomez
Lisa Rieffel
as Valerie
Robert Arce
as Doctor Schwartz
Fred Scialla
Brittany Peterson
as Marla Lasala
Philip Perlman
as Motel Cashier
Yul Vázquez
as French Instructor
Melissa McCarthy
as Shirley
Jason Monkarsh
as Benny
Brian Doyle-Murray
as Co-Worker
Bonnie
as Peaches
View All

News & Interviews for Drowning Mona

"Mutants" Chronicled in Pre-Production
Code Entertainment Goes "Gravedancing"
View All

Critic Reviews for Drowning Mona

All Critics (76) | Top Critics (24)

View All Critic Reviews (76)

Audience Reviews for Drowning Mona

  • Mar 01, 2014
    Drowning Mona doesn't leave an impression on you and will be forgotten quickly. Just not funny.
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 14, 2011
    Borrows a lot from drawing room/dinner theater mysteries because everyone but everyone wants to see the victim dead ... and transports the action to some po-dunk upstate New York town. Alas the scenery change - nor the sad Yugo as the victim of countless sad jokes - can jump start the inertia felt here.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 14, 2010
    I rather drive myself into a lake after seeing this.
    Joseph E Super Reviewer
  • May 15, 2010
    This movie is about Mona who ends up driving her car into a river where she dies. After her death everyone in town becomes a suspect. This movie has a lot of talented actors and they're all combined into this funny and strange comedy movie. Mona is played by Bette Midler and I can't see how any other actor would have played this part any better because she's obnoxious and annoying and one can't but wonder how people wouldn't want her gone.
    Naughtia N Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Drowning Mona Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features