A Fish Called Wanda (1988) – Filmsack Show Notes

INTRO

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Oh hi,

This week on Filmsack, we gobble up an aquarium’s worth of A FISH CALLED WANDA (gross) like some kind of stupid American jealous lover brother (don’t call me stupid) now stuffing brit chips up Amazon Prime’s uptight stuffy nose holes to get to the bottom of this double crossing 1988 Holy Grail of Animal Cruelty  Crime Drama Comedy that very nearly shows us John Cleese’s “Full Monty” Python.

Anywho, how about some uncomfortable Tit Talk in a large American car driving down the wrong side of the road to John Cleese’s house. You may ask does he get to handle them? Yes, yes he does. What’s that? Tit Nuzzling? Yes, that is what these things are made for right? Sucking? oh boy.

Randy? What was the middle thing again. Jamie Lee Curtis in a mustache? Kinky.

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BRIEF

When a group of con artists pull off a multi-million dollar diamond heist, betrayal is the name of the game. Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Otto (Kevin Kline) plan to double-cross their accomplice George (Tom Georgeson), but Wanda complicates the plan by falling for George’s lawyer Archie Leach (John Cleese). Meanwhile, stuttering animal lover Ken (Michael Palin) is tasked with eliminating witnesses… with varying degrees of success. The chaos that follows is a brilliant mix of British wit and American madness.

Rated: R

1988 • Comedy/Crime • 1h 48m

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Social Media Post

A Fish Called Wanda (1988) —Like a little crotch perfume spritz before your date with John Cleese. Diss-a-pointed! #TheFishDiesInTheEnd

SHOW NOTES

• • • • MGM Presents.. London? 
      • Hey… it is that Python guy!
      • Meanwhile down at the Diamond house… it is Jamie Leah Curtis with a camera bag and a hat of tron.
      • Nietzsche… Good and Evil.
      • Hey… there is a fish called Wanda in the movie!
      • Cast setup. The Lawyer, The Spy/Thief, The Assassin Philosopher and the Animal Lover.
      • 5 minutes of fish tank… sure…
      • Ken has a stutter…doesn’t bother me though. His friend in the CIA died because of a stutter.
      • How about a Honk Jamie.
      • Father has to hear all the complaints but “I won the case” gets nothing. Surrounded by negativity and looking for approval.
      • Otto is suppose to be her brother? Lover?
      • What is that middle part again?
      • How you gonna c-c-c-c-atch me -k-k-k-en.
      • Why do you like animals… 
      • Animal’s God’s second blunder.
      • No one every says anything in a raid? heist?
      • A couple of diamonds… screw this other stuff.
      • Chaotic evil
      • Jamie Lee Curtis in a mustache.
      • That was fun, I love robbing the English.
      • Randy, hold my mustache while I get away.
      • No celebrating!
      • The ole’ Double Cross.
      • To 20 Million. The best Brother and Sister team.
      • Even if you were my brother I would still want to Screw you. Make the call Otto.
      • oooh… look at that Sony Jam Boxman.
      • Betrayed
      • The Key is in the fish food!
      • Otto driving a very large American car.
      • The safe is empty! I guess I can put away my knock out stick.
      • Diss-a-pointed!
      • What do you have to do to get people to trust you.
      • I’m thinking! Using my gun.
      • The Lawyer is not a part of the team but is a part of the story.
      • No hugging Jamie Lee Curtis in holding!
      • Who did it George? Kevin Mulaney?
      • Randy? What was the middle thing?
      • Don’t ever call me stupid… Otto has a thing about that.
      • We named the fish Wanda. Angelfish
      • Kevin Kline plays such a jerk.
      • What is this. Hump a Limey Week.
      • She has a weakness for Italian? French?
      • Look what I got Wanda… Treasure.
      • Gross… put your fish water to your limps to shhh..
      • You are very handsome. You dress really interestingly.
      • Randy, can I kiss you? Just a peck. RANDY!
      • Ken! Somebody just called!
      • Everybody always trying to kiss Ken.
      • They robbed from a safe deposit box only to put it in a safe deposit box.
      • Attempted Dog Murder
      • Staging… everybody is always staging before other people come in. Even the lawyer.
      • No one is being honest… 
      • All I hear all day is people complaining to me.  Oh Dear. 
      • Contrast of Law and Justice … separate beds for the Brits. American Criminals having raw animal party sex.
      • Kevin Kline boot breathing.
      • Kevin Kline… that is not how sex works.
      • Good night Wanda… oh sorry darling.
      • He wants you to rub her out.
      • The old lady is going to meet with the murder.
      • Otto… Don’t go near him. He’s mine.
      • Jamie Lee Curtis crying is the best. 
      • That doggie don’t like no K-K-K-en
      • In order to get information. I might just have to get friendly with him.
      • Time for some Tit Talk – What about my tits? Does he get to handle them?
      • Wanda: What about my tits? Otto: Does he get to handle them?  Wanda: Yes, he does. That’s my forecast and I’ll stand by it. Otto: Would this also involve…nuzzling? Wanda: Yes, I think three million dollars is worth a bit of nuzzling. Fifty percent chance of that. Otto: Sucking? Wanda: I thought you  weren’t jealous? Otto: I’m not. I don’t believe in jealousy, it’s for the weak. One thing though. Touch his dick and he’s dead!
      • Sexy lady shows up in your house… no questions asked. Just glad you are here.
      • Don’t call me stupid..
      • Cordial, Courteous… Friendly might include penetration.
      • Champagne… AAAAAH!
      • No questions asked… Harvey Manford-ford-son. When it comes to cheating. Archie is now a part of the deal.
      • Bringing a little excitement to their marriage.
      • How to kill an old lady with tiny dogs…  a bigger dog.
      • Poor Ken done taken a few knocks.
      • Stuttering.
      • I am here because I am bored. These boring Brits. He is taking the piss on his own people.
      • Not you Ken… you got a beautiful speaking voice.
      • No. They can’t bloody have it… lots of love locket.
      • Crotch perfume…
      • Otto always shows up… also, he has a habit of sniffing his pits.
      • He thought that the Gettysburg’s Address was where Lincoln lived.
      • Don’t call me stupid!
      • Now apologize. You are the Vulgarian!
      • All right I apologize. I deeply regret
      • Did she get more dogs?
      • Rasta Ken. That’s 2. I think this is breaking Ken.
      • Don’t call you stupid that would be an insult to stupid people.
      • What would Plato do. Apologize.
      • Sacking his own house to get the locket back.
      • Your father has finally gone completely mental.
      • Archie… do you speak Italian… I am Italian. She likes Russian as well… it is her weakness.
      • Archie are you rich? nope… it is my wife.
      • She always goes for the bad boys… but now she fell for the good boy.
      • Go ahead… Pork away pal. I just want to help.
      • Ken has taken a dark turn. They done broke Ken. But he finally killed the old lady…that is good!
      • No… that is a chip up the nose…
      • Are you thinking or are you in mid stutter.
      • The most cruel… Eating Ken’s fish. 
      • Eww… avoid the green ones. They are not ripe yet.
      • Man… eating a whole tank of fish raw….that is rough.
      • oh my… he killed The Fish called Wanda… what a turn.
      • Where could he be going at 5 till 7 with that shotgun.
      • How did we fall in love with scoundrels.
      • You can stick this marriage right in your bottom.
      • Come on, everybody does it in America.
      • I wasn’t rich enough, remember.
      • Randy, say something in Russian.
      • Take your time. Sing it…
      • Riding bitch with Ken.
      • What was the middle one?
      • The brits vs the americans.
      • What about Ken.
      • I guess we can’t hate Ken too much… cause he only killed the mean old lady and suffered on every doggie death.
      • She obviously planned to leave with Archie since she called him.
      • I will put 1 hand up.
      • I used to kill for the CIA.. I used to box for Oxford.
      • You English… you think you are so superior.
      • Winners like North Vietnam… it was a tie.
      • Steam roller Ken. It is K-k-k-en coming to kill me. How you gonna catch me K-k-k-en. May I call you Kenny?
      • Revenge Ken! Slowest death in a movie?
      • Randy, I am sorry I killed your fish.
      • Ken is healed… how much wood could a wood chuck chuck.
      • Otto is always right outside. Rubbles.
      • Asshooooooole.
      • Archie and Wanda were married in Rio and had seventeen children and founded a leper colony.
      • Stephen Fry?
      • Don’t call me stupid.

      • Fish murder as a plot device

      • Kevin Kline chews up every scene, sometimes literally.

      • Jamie Lee Curtis plays everyone. Smartly.

      • John Cleese’s Archie Leach is somehow dignified while pantsless.

      • Michael Palin vs. animals. Sad and funny.

      • The stutter is a character trait, not the punchline.

      • “Don’t call me stupid!”

      • Otto is both insecure and unkillable.

      • Ken’s slow revenge plot.

      • Wanda wants the jewels, the truth, and maybe a little legal protection.

      • The courtroom scenes are hilarious.

      • Fish tank of doom.

      • Surprise steamroller.

      • Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Kline.

      • Contains more F-bombs than most comedies of its time.

      • Surprisingly heartfelt by the end.

      • It’s a crime movie with farce energy and a Shakespearean finish.

      • No actual Wandas were harmed in the making of this film.

      •  

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