Episode 196 - A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

The Stinking Pause Podcast – bringing you classic movie reviews since 2013 - some good...some not so good.

This week join Scott, Paul and Charlie for a tale of a bungled diamond heist leading to a chaotic, hilarious web of double-crosses. Seduction, stammering, and stolen fish ensnare a stuffy lawyer in a madcap Anglo-American culture clash for the loot.

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

"A Fish Called Wanda" is a delightfully chaotic and hilariously upbeat caper that brilliantly blends British wit with American brashness. The story ignites when a mismatched gang of jewel thieves – the cunning Wanda Gershwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis), her dangerously dim-witted "brother" Otto (Kevin Kline), the animal-loving, stuttering Ken Pile (Michael Palin), and the brains of the operation, George Thomason (Tom Georgeson) – successfully pull off a major diamond heist.

However, the trust among thieves is, predictably, non-existent. Wanda and Otto immediately betray George, landing him in jail, but not before he cunningly hides the loot. Enter the quintessential, repressed English barrister, Archie Leach (John Cleese). Wanda sets her sights on seducing Archie, believing he can lead her to the hidden diamonds. What follows is a whirlwind of outrageous situations, escalating absurdities, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Kevin Kline's Oscar-winning performance as the pseudo-intellectual, pathologically jealous Otto is a comedic tour-de-force, delivering iconic lines and unforgettable physical comedy. Michael Palin is equally brilliant as the tortured Ken, whose attempts to eliminate a key witness (an elderly dog lover) go catastrophically and hilariously wrong, usually involving the unfortunate demise of her beloved pooches.

Jamie Lee Curtis shines as the smart, manipulative Wanda, effortlessly wrapping everyone around her little finger. John Cleese is perfect as the flustered Archie, whose stiff upper lip gradually crumbles under Wanda's charms and the sheer madness of the unfolding events, leading to some of the film's most memorable and uproarious scenes.

"A Fish Called Wanda" is a masterclass in comedic timing and ensemble performance. Its relentless pace, witty dialogue, and a genuine sense of fun make it an enduring and infectiously cheerful cinematic treat that leaves audiences roaring with laughter.

"You pompous, stuck-up, snot-nosed, English, giant, twerp, scumbag, fuck-face, dickhead, asshole."

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Scott, Paul, and Charlie