Critic Reviews

Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) Rank 5 Reviews

Expert Review Summary

Movie critics combined give Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) a score of 3.3024 out of 4

based on (38) reviews

Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating

Excellent

(15)

Very Good

(22)

Good

(1)

Fair

(0)

Poor

(0)

Reviews by Score:

ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

When it comes to comedians, everyone has their favorite. Mine is John Cleese. In fact, he has held that place in my esteem since the first time I watched an episode of Fawlty Towers on PBS, some twenty years ago. Up to that point, I knew Cleese as just an ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

eFilmCritic.com (--)

John Cleese, Michael Palin, Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis that is one power packed line-up in every sense of the phrase. Power in terms of their Hollywood status in the mid to late-1980s and packed in terms of the star studded line-up they lend to ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at eFilmCritic.com (--)

ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

One of the best-constructed, funniest, and most clever comedies to grace motion picture screens in recent years. It's outrageous, offensive, and even a little sick -- and all the more enjoyable because of it. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Jay Scott)

May be less than the sum of its parts, but its parts are more impressive than most other wholes around. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Jay Scott)

Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

The funniest movie I have seen in a long time. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

Three Movie Buffs (Scott Nash)

Very, very, very few movies are above criticism. A Fish Called Wanda is one of those movies. At no point during this brilliantly funny movie did I think, 'Oh, they should have done this.' or 'Why did they include that scene?'. Every scene is a gem, the ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Scott Nash)

Movie Gazette (Gary Panton)

When John Cleese brought together a team of two Hollywood stars, two Pythons (including, of course, himself), and the director of some of Ealing's finest and most memorable comedies, it was one of those marvellous - and extremely rare - movie occasions ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Movie Gazette (Gary Panton)

Steve Robiner

This is one of those rare films that's as structurally sound as it is hilariously funny. The timing, characters, and the absurd situations are perfect and will be appreciated by even those who don't generally care for Monty Python humor (of which John ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Steve Robiner

Teen Movie Critic (Roger Davidson)

This is one of the best comedies I have ever seen. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Teen Movie Critic (Roger Davidson)

BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)

The tiny budget comedy that became a legend at the box office, "A Fish Called Wanda" won an audience beyond everyone's expectations and will likely do very well on this superb new DVD release. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)

Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

This may be a purely personal prejudice, but I do not often find big-scale physical humor very funny. When squad cars crash into each other and careen out of control, as they do in nine out of 10 modern Hollywood comedies, I stare at the screen in ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)

FulvueDrive-in.com (Chuck O'Leary)

This fish is swimming with laugh-out-loud moments. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at FulvueDrive-in.com (Chuck O'Leary)

Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

Crichton keeps the laughs coming with infectious energy. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)

Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)

Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and the late Graham Chapman will always be remembered for one thing: Monty Python. In a TV series, some live appearances, and four films, they became immortalized in everything Python ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)

JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")

For the most part, I'm not a major fan of "British" comedies (mostly because I don't understand some of their sayings, etc...), but this film has always been a pretty big favorite of mine. I rented it again most recently and I have to say that it still ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")

Time Out (--)

A perfectly old-fashioned romantic comedy, big on caper, generous on Ealing, and heavy on the twisted stereotypes. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Time Out (--)

Variety (Staff (Not Credited))

Curtis steals the show with her keen sense of comic timing and sneaky little grins and asides. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Variety (Staff (Not Credited))

Movie Addict (John Ulmer)

Kline's motto will go down in the history of the best mottos in motion picture history... ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Movie Addict (John Ulmer)

filmcritic.com (Pete Croatto)

it's the right time to watch A Fish Called Wanda, so it can finally get the quotable legacy it so richly deserves ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at filmcritic.com (Pete Croatto)

7M Pictures (Kevin Carr)

No pun intended, but all the stars aligned for this film. It was the perfect blend of British and American humor. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at 7M Pictures (Kevin Carr)

Rolling Stone (Hal Erickson)

If it is indeed possible for a film to be both stylish and tasteless, then A Fish Called Wanda certainly fills the bill. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Rolling Stone (Hal Erickson)

Washington Post (Desson Thomson)

It'll keep you amused enough to sit still and even remember it fondly. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)

DVD Verdict (Sean McGinnis)

It really is too bad that such a terrific movie got such shoddy treatment from the folks over at MGM. I guess they just figured, "oh well, its just a comedy and won't make much money." Too bad. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at DVD Verdict (Sean McGinnis)

Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)

Delightful caper movie which gives its actors the chance to rise to new comic heights. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)

Orbital Reviews

A group of jewel thieves, lead by George (Tom Georgeson), steals tens of millions of dollars worth of jewels, but after they flee to separate locations, the plan becomes a mess. Only George knows the location of the jewels, but Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Orbital Reviews

Moviehole

Let's face it the story's not much - a band of jewel thieves trying to outsmart each other to find out where the stash has been hidden, whilst the femme fatale of the troupe charms the pants off a Barrister (Cleese) who may have half of an idea - ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Moviehole

DVD Net (Paul Dossett)

Years ago, when I still qualified for a concession ticket, I went to see Twins at the Boronia Hoyts multiplex. It was part of a double-feature with an English film I'd never heard of, and while I was reasonably entertained by Twins (hey, I was young!) I ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at DVD Net (Paul Dossett)

Movie-Vault.com ("Beatnik")

Some of you might notice that both John Cleese and Michael Palin star in this British comedy. If you're looking for Monty Python style comedy, you'll be disappointed in this movie. No knights who say Nee, no giant feet coming out of nowhere. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Movie-Vault.com ("Beatnik")

DVD Town (John J. Puccio)

How can you resist a film that has Michael Palin running over Kevin Kline with a steamroller after Kline has eaten PalinÂ´s favorite tropical ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at DVD Town (John J. Puccio)

DVD Net (Amy Flower)

Smarting somewhat from the essentially complete and utter failure of his film Clockwise everywhere pretty much other than Sweden (we wonder if their Prime Minister got to see it?), always the glutton for punishment John Cleese went back to the drawing ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at DVD Net (Amy Flower)

Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)

John Cleese wrote, produced and starred in this particular movie, and every critic flipped out. "The best comedy in years!" "Funny as hell!" Right? Wrong! It's a caper about the theft of 13 million pounds in diamonds by 4 unlikely criminals. There's ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)

Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)

A FISH CALLED WANDA ($25) is a film whose hilarity knows no bounds. This film is an atypical English caper comedy that deploys American sensibilities, which made it a crossover hit here in the United States. A FISH CALLED WANDA stars John Cleese as ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)

New York Times (Vincent Canby)

The best thing about ''A Fish Called Wanda'' is the anticipation of it. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at New York Times (Vincent Canby)

DVD MovieGuide

While Rhett Butler may have uttered the most famous cinematic profanity, his comment to Miss O'Hara doesn't stand as my favorite use of foul language in a film. That honor has to go to Kevin Kline's Otto in A Fish Called Wanda, a character who ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at DVD MovieGuide

Edinburgh U Film Society (Malcolm Maclaren)

Blessed with inspired casting and a great collection of characters with their own personal hang-ups - Jamie Lee Curtis's Wanda who likes to be talked to in Italian; Kevin Kline's crazy Otto (with a passion for Nietzsche) who thinks that the London ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Edinburgh U Film Society (Malcolm Maclaren)

Reel.com

Directed and co-written by Charles Crichton (with star John Cleese), the British film veteran who crafted the fantastic Lavender Hill Mob (1952), A Fish Called Wanda is a daring ribald comedy with a decidedly screwball touch. Complete with perfectly ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at Reel.com

The Onion A.V. Club

Apart from Terry Gilliam, the most creatively productive Monty Python member in a non-Python setting has to be John Cleese, who masterminded the '70s TV series Fawlty Towers and the 1988 comedy A Fish Called Wanda. The latter was especially sweet: It was ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at The Onion A.V. Club

TV Guide (Staff(not credited))

With British-American culture clash as its dominant theme, A Fish Called Wanda bristles with wit, enlivened by delightfully over-the-top ensemble acting. ...read the complete Fish Called Wanda movie review at TV Guide (Staff(not credited))