A Fish Called Wanda

1988

A Fish Called Wanda

Critics Consensus

Smartly written, smoothly directed, and solidly cast, A Fish Called Wanda offers a classic example of a brainy comedy with widespread appeal.

93%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 61

84%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 181,119
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Movie Info

An ambitious and sexy con artist uses every tool at her disposal to obtain a fortune in jewels stolen by her mobster lover. To help in her plan, she woo's first her lover's deadly henchman and then his attorney, eventually falling in love with one of them.

Cast

John Cleese
as Archie Leach
Jamie Lee Curtis
as Wanda Gerschwitz
Kevin Kline
as Otto
Michael Palin
as Ken
Maria Aitken
as Wendy Leach
Tom Georgeson
as George
Patricia Hayes
as Mrs. Coady
Geoffrey Palmer
as Judge
Cynthia Caylor
as Portia
Peter Jonfield
as Inspector
Mark Elwes
as Shop Customer
Neville Phillips
as Shop Manager
Ken Campbell (XII)
as Bartlett
Al Ashton
as Warder
Roger Hume
as Locksmith
Roger Brierley
as Davidson
Llewellyn Rees
as Sir John
Michael Percival
as Percival
Kate Lansbury
as Magistrate
Robert Cavendish
as Copper
Andrew MacLachlan
as Eebedee
Roland MacLeod
as Vicar
Jeremy Child
as Mr. Johnson
Pamela Miles
as Mrs. Johnson
Kim Barclay
as Nanny
David Simeon
as Court Clerk
Imogen Bickford-Smith
as Stenographer
Tia Lee
as Prosecution Counsel
Robert Putt
as Police Officer
Anthony Pedley
as Irate Driver
Robert McBain
as Hotel Clerk
Clare McIntyre
as Airline Employee
Charu Bala Chokshi
as Indian Cleaner
Stephen Fry
as Hutchison
Cynthia Cleese
as Portia
Tom Piggot-Smith
as Johnson Child, 13
Katherine John
as Johnson Child
Sophie Johnstone
as Johnson Child
Sharon Twomey
as Junior Barrister #1
Patrick Newman
as Junior Barrister #2
Waydon Croft
as Prison Officer #1
John Dixon
as Prison Officer #2
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Critic Reviews for A Fish Called Wanda

All Critics (61) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (4)

  • Perhaps the most unusual aspect of what is surely the year's most original and daring comedy is that John Cleese is not the funniest performer in it. Believe it or not, that honor goes to none other than the usually somber Kevin Kline.

    Jul 30, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Desmond Ryan

    Philadelphia Inquirer
    Top Critic

  • Somehow, the movie manages to do the impossible: It makes John Cleese less than hilarious.

    Jul 30, 2013 | Full Review…

    Jay Boyar

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

  • Low comedy at high speed, it pretends to be a caper movie about a smooth London jewel heist and its infinitely complex aftermath. Actually, it's a smart farce about ingrained cultural differences.

    Jul 30, 2013 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

    Sheila Benson

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • The movie's basic joke holds that the overbearing, unselfconscious Americans will do anything and say anything (and usually as loudly as possible), while the timorous British are nearly too polite to breathe.

    Jul 30, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • Wanda defies gravity, in both senses of the word, and redefines a great comic tradition.

    Apr 27, 2009 | Full Review…

    Richard Schickel

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • Like many of the best English comedies, much of the humor here is based on character, good-natured high spirits, and fairly uninhibited vulgarity.

    Apr 27, 2009 | Full Review…

    Jonathan Rosenbaum

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (61)

Audience Reviews for A Fish Called Wanda

  • Aug 01, 2012
    No review of this movie would be complete without mentioning how absolutely perfect Kevin Kline is in his role. There's something so completely unhinged about his character and he plays it so perfectly. He plays the character like an intellectual, but maniacal, dumbass. Really he was just perfect and the highlight of a movie that is already excellent to begin with. Just a tremendous comedy film from beginning to end. The cast really is tremendous, by far one of the best of any comedy I've seen, and they seemed to have a blast playing these characters, especially, again, Kevin Kline...he's let loose and he makes the most out of it. Seriously the guy won an Oscar for this role. When was the last time someone won an Oscar for a comedy role? It's very rare, perhaps in the earlier days of the awards, but recently it's incredibly rare. Really it has to be seen. But again, the cast is tremendous. It's a very funny movie and it's cleverly written. It does slow down in some parts here and there, but there's never a long stretch where you don't laugh. An excellent comedy, that definitely isn't perfect but it is very much worth watching.
    Jesse O Super Reviewer
  • Mar 30, 2012
    Terrible funny and clever, A Fish Called Wanda it's a great comedy film with outstanding performances. Fresh.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 10, 2012
    A Fish Called Wanda is an incredibly funny British comedy from Monty Python's John Cleese, and despite a slower but still funny first half, the second half of the movie is painfully hilarious, thanks to very funny performances from Kevin Kline and Michael Palin.
    Joey S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 29, 2011
    A Fish Called Wanda is an oddly satisfying mix of comedy and crime that makes for an enjoyable and entertaining watch.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
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