Movie Review: A Fish Called Wanda (heist, comedy, London, Yorkies, Jamie Lee Curtis)

A Fish Called Wanda (MGM, 108 minutes, rated R, 1988 – with Kevin Kline, John Cleese, and Jamie Lee Curtis)

Question: Why is DogEvals writing about a fish movie?

Answer: Because of the dogs!

But first, about the movie: a British-American heist comedy, on the slapstick side, and recipient of three Academy Award nominations and one winner.

Is There Really a Fish Called Wanda?

Yes, there is a fish (besides Jamie Lee Curtis) called Wanda (in an aquarium) and two French Fries up the nose and someone eating the aquarium fish and even some funny Italian spoken and some Russian (mostly names strung together to sound like actual sentences – listen for “Benito Mussolini” and wines and cheeses) and a stuttering star and three Yorkies* who are killed off one by one, hilariously.

Some might call DogEvals callous to love the three creative dead Yorkie scenes best, but bear in mind that this movie was made nearly 30 years ago and slapstick from that era is a bit jaded by now, even if Curtis is ‘easy on the eyes.’

Frankly, we just don’t see why the awards were given to Wanda but it must have been a great movie in its heyday to receive so many accolades and to become a phrase in nearly everyone’s lexicon.

If you have been to London, you will love recognizing the sights! And pre-teen boys will get a kick out of the French Fries - and Ms Curtis.

*Yorkshire Terriers, the 9^th most popular breed in the US, are small dogs, under 20 pounds (usually 5-10 pounds)