Way Back Wednesday - A Fish Called Wanda

One of my top 10 movies of all time is the quirky British film, A Fish Called Wanda. Released in 1988, this hilarious movie stars John Cleese and Michael Palin (both of Monty Python fame), Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Kline.

Wanda - Jamie Lee Curtis - and her boyfriend Otto - Kevin Kline - (who is pretending to be her brother) plot the robbery of a England diamond collection. They are helped by Wanda's lover, George, and his stuttering partner, Ken. Do you see the love triangle yet? You soon learn that Wanda is playing all sides to meet the middle.

After successfully stealing the diamonds, Wanda and Otto turn in George to the police so they can have the loot for themselves, but George has already moved the diamonds and only he knows where they are. All four of the criminals start double-crossing each other to try to get to the diamonds before anyone else.

In her attempt to find the hidden diamonds, Wanda tries "getting close" to George's barrister (lawyer), Archie - John Cleese - because if George pleads guilty he will tell Archie where the diamonds are to cut his sentence. Absolute hilarity ensues.

Wanda manages to seduce Archie, even though he is married with a grown daugher. After realizing he has fallen in love with Wanda, Archie tries to end their relationship, but Wanda reluctantly realizes that she is truly in love with him.

Some of the funniest scenes in the movie are when Ken, an avid animal lover, ends up killing three Yorkshire Terriers in his attempts to kill the only eye witness to the robbery, a little old lady. Following the death of her last little dog, the lady drops dead of a heart attack.

One of the most iconic scenes of the entire movie is when Ken has to watch helplessly as Otto eats his pet Angel fish, ironically named Wanda. One of the funniest lines in the movie is a recurrent saying Otto has whenever someone does something to upset him: "You asshole!"

The most romantic line in the movie is Archie saying to Wanda:

"You are the sexiest, most beautiful girl I have ever seen ... in my entire life."

His tone of voice and complete sincerity never ceases to make me feel weak in the knees.

The movies ends with final note explaining how each person had a happy ending. Otto became Justice Minister for South Africa; Archie and Wanda married, had seventeen children and founded a leper colony in Rio; and Ken happened to become Master of Ceremonies at the London Sea World.

If you love quirky British humor, then this film is a must see. As I said early this is one of my favorite films; I even have a framed movie poster in my living room. I recommend A Fish Called Wanda as a classic for all ages.