Fierce Creatures
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Movie Reviews of Fierce Creatures
Movie Review: Very Funny
Summary: 5 Stars
Cute and funny. Story line is a little weak, but the laughs gets you through the rough spots.Movie Review: "Creatures" is lovable and cuddly
Summary: 4 Stars
John Cleese, best known for his turns in Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, stars in a hilarious comedy centering on the lack of all that is cute and cuddly. With a great supporting cast and an ever-growing level of mindless farce, this is a great time-waster.The movie opens with Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis) coming to work at Octopus Inc., a massive multi-corporation owned by the semi-psychopath Rod McCain, or as he is known there, "Rod Almighty." Willa has to deal with the devious associate Neville (Bille Brown) and McCain's annoying son Vince (Kevin Kline, who also plays Rod), who spends a great deal of time trying to seduce her. She petitions Rod to let her manage a zoo he acquired in England, and gets to go -- if she brings Vince with her.
In England, new director Rollo Lee displays a new moneymaking tactic to the dismayed animal keepers: Only dangerous animals are allowed at the zoo, and anything cute, cuddly, herbivorous, and unable to bite off major appendages is history. The keepers desperately try to convince him that anteaters, bandicoots, tarantulas and lemurs can be vicious, unaware that he is secretly keeping the animals in his home.
But things degenerate even further when Vince and Willa arrive. Vince despises animals unless they entertain him, and soon turns the zoo into a mess of weird costumes and media endorsements. Willa and Rollo dig deeper into shady dealings and corporate psychosis -- only to have a new mess of problems rear their ugly heads.
The cast for this movie is truly inspired: Cleese plays the desperate, Basil-Fawlty-esque director of the zoo, who has a secret soft spot for animals while trying to maintain the appearance of toughness. Michael Palin plays a motormouthed tarantula keeper with encyclopedic knowledge on everything. Kevin Kline plays both father and son so well that it's almost astonishing that Rod and Vince aren't played by different people. Ronnie Corbett is a lesser but still hilarious as the tiny Reggie Sea Lions.
The humor is outrageously funny, especially when it is either clever or farcical: Vince and Willa hearing Rollo's frantic words to the animals: "Get off the bed!" "Ow, don't pull!" "Stop licking my-" and "Go play with each other!"; the hide-the-body sequence late in the film, which has a frenzied energy that will make people roll in the aisles; the keepers faking elaborate injuries; the scene where Terry the tarantula gets loose, causing Cub and Rollo to desperately strip off in a closet; a repeat of Cleese's "light switch" joke; and the following scene where Willa looks into the half-naked Rollo's room, finds a sheep and a pair of very embarrassed women, one of them half-naked as well, and comes to the obvious conclusion. And the scene where police officers are assaulted by zookeepers in big stupid-looking animal costumes is absolutely priceless.
What is not funny? Well, the fart jokes got old before they even started. And Jamie Lee Curtis lacks any amusing qualities whatsoever: she doesn't have a funny moment in the entire movie. While every other character has some individual quirks or humiliating moments that make them more human and understandable, Willa Weston doesn't. She's a plastic Barbie doll. Which brings up another pet peeve: So much attention is paid to Willa flashing her cleavage at Vince and Rollo. Her role could have easily been filled by a Wonderbra. She's a far cry from Carey Lowell's Cub, a smart, pretty and active woman who maintains the respect of the viewers. And the sentimental flashes only bog down the plot, such as Curtis's reminiscing about a gorilla.
Despite these flaws, "Fierce Creatures" is a hilarious comedy that, though it sags a bit in the middle, becomes outrageously funny near the end. Cleese, Kline and Palin are at their best here, and you'll walk away with a new appreciation for the shooting skills of lemurs.
Movie Review: "A Lemur Called Rollo"
Summary: 4 Stars
Let me take it out of my system first. There never will be another A Fish Called Wanda. That comedy was one and only, perfect, brilliant, mean, witty, the best film about culture clashes, the best backstabbing comedy, the best - everything. For me, Wanda is a Citizen Kane of the comedy. Period. What makes is outstanding, are the four partners in crime as written by John Cleese and played by Cleese himself, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin, and Kevin Kline that were simply incredible, and, let's face it, despite being criminals and backstabbers, you would love them all. I know I did.
When Fierce Creatures was released 12 years ago, I ran to see it and I was bitterly disappointed. I expected Wanda, Part 2 - which is impossible because ...see the first paragraph. Last night I caught FC on TV and I have to admit that it IS a good and funny film. It knows that it is a follow up to A Fish Called Wanda. It references to the perfect predecessor, makes you laugh, and lets you meet again with the fabulous four and many supporting players from Wanda. Fierce Creatures has gained Cult Status with years, and I am now a part of its following. The script was written by John Cleese and the plot is convoluted and silly at the same time. The best, the funniest moments play off mistaken assuming that John Cleese's character Rollo, ex-cop appointed the London Marwood Zoo Director, is a sexy beast for whom one woman is not enough. The scenes between Cleese (Rollo Lee) and Willa Weston, an American business-woman (Jamie Lee Curtis) are the funniest. The weakest links in the movie are IMO Michael Palin who unlike his character Ken in AFCW can talk and he just would never shut up. His character became boring and annoying very soon. The same sadly should be said about Kevin Kline playing two roles, the Australian billionaire Ron McClain, ruthless, obnoxious, and vulgar, and his weakling loser son Vince whom his father despises. Needless to say there is not much love lost between an arrogant father and his estranged son. The film has so many hilarious jokes and witty references not only to A Fish Called Wanda but to Monty Python series that by the time of the conclusion, I had enough fun and laughs to tolerate and forgive the loud and messy final act.
3.5/5
Movie Review: The crazy "quartet" at it again.
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw `A fish called Wanda' a while back but didn't know there was a sequel. You can imagine my joy when I found out that Cleese, Curtis, Kline & Palin had teamed up again. I won't bore you with the details of the plot as it will just be a rehash of what previous reviewers have said. The main thing you must be wondering if you've seen the first film is: Is this movie funnier? Or if you haven't seen "A fish called Wanda," Is it worth watching? The answer to both questions is yes.
However it depends to a large extent on what you consider to be comedy. If you like Monty Python, Yes Minister, Fawlty towers, BlackAdder (generally British humor) etc...then this movie will definitely appeal to you. If you are more into the American-style `action-comedies' this movie may not be as funny to you.
Although most people think Kleese was the funniest, I liked Michael Palin as the loquacious know-it-all the best. I had to press pause a couple of times so that I could stop laughing before I continued with the movie. As in most other comedies there are the `dry' parts, fortunately though, this movie has very few of those.
My only gripe was that Kline's accent sounded more Australian than New Zealand, and he was supposed to be a Kiwi. This is not noticeable to those unfamiliar with these two accents, but it would be like having an American (U.S) actor use a Southern accent when playing a Canadian.
Even with that petty `grievance' I would highly recommend this movie. If you can, you should also watch "A fish called Wanda" which is equally funny.
Movie Review: A must for Monty Python fans....
Summary: 4 Stars
They're baaaaaack......the funny four from "Fish Called Wanda." John Cleese, Michael Palin, Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis wanted to work together again, but didn't want a sequel to "Wanda" so they set Cleese to work on a script.
Rod McCain is a NZ media mogul whose "Octopus" Empire swallows up businesses and spits them out again---not quite what they were before. McCain hires Willow Weston (Curtis) as a manager for a media publication and the job is gone before she can even report. With the help of McCain's son, Vince, WIllow manages to land on her feet (Vince is hoping eventually to land her on her back) as the manager of a British Zoo.
Ex-cop, Rollo Lee (Cleese) is already there. He's the Zoo Director and his idea to put the sleepy zoo on the map is to get rid of all of the tame animals and focus on "Fierce Creatures."
Naturally, the three of them collide with some of the best comedic routines I've seen in a long time. With a few brief exceptions, "Fierce Creatures" is funny all the way through.
I would like to note that the full-screen DVD cuts a good deal of the picture off. If you really want to see all of this film, get the widescreen VHS version. I was disappointed that the DVD editing could not be better and that's the reason for deducting one star.