Fierce Creatures

A movie by Fred Schepisi and Robert Young III

With Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Kevin Kline, Kevin Kline's tongue and others

Christina says:

John Cleese reunited the cast of 'A Fish Called Wanda' and made another movie full of bizarre humor.

The names are new but the characters didn't change much. Cleese is Rollo Lee, a prudish clumsy englishman who was made director of a run-down zoo. Curtis is Willa Weston, the American manager sent by the head of the company to raise the profits. Palin once more is the awkward eccentric, but because he didn't have so many lines to learn last time he gets to talk incessantly. Kline's part as the mean guy was split in two. He is Rod McCain, the millionaire without scruples as well as Vince McCain, his slimy useless son. Kevin Kline's tongue has a charming cameo, showing up in all the places it doesn't belong.

If you see this movie in German it is vulgar and on the lowest level of bad taste. Of course the viewer is confronted with every single joke on breasts and sex in the original version as well. But for some reason that is funny. Don't ask me why. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Curtis' part lacks the bite from 'A Fish Called Wanda'. She is only allowed to parade her breasts. Therfore she never wears the uniform-like suit we usually see on female managers (the one with the long jacket). Willa Weston herself is rather boring. But if she weren't in the movie neither were about one third of the jokes.

The other two thirds spring from the fact that evil American capitalists buy an idyllic british zoo and rob it of its soul. Animals that don't offer the requested exitement have to be gotten rid of, if neccessary with a gun.

The team of clever zoo keepers resorts to a number of tricks to present their darlings as dangerous beasts, but that doesn't work too well. The cute animals however conquer the hearts of Rollo and Willa Weston (or rather in her case the gorilla does the trick).

But first the zoo is given a makeover by various sponsors. Suddenly there are pictures of celebrities like Miss Piggy or Saddam Hussein all over the place. The zoo keepers have to wear colorful outfits covered with sponsor name tags like race drivers and later even have to dress up as the animals they care for.

Adorable animals, actors with a knack for comical situations (some of the keepers are just as cute as their animals) and some elements straight out of the box of slippery humor all the ex-Monty Pythons seem to keep on their attics make a very funny movie.

I'd like to see the ending that was canceled after American test audiences didn't like it.

Any comments?
Write us:
Monika Hübner
Christina Gross