A wicked Ealing Comedy about twenty-five years after producer Michael Balcom stopped making them, "Wanda" is the inspired brainchild of John Cleese and director Charles Crichton (who directed such Ealing classics as "The Lavendar Hill Mob"). One part caper, one part sexy romance, two parts farce, three parts black humor, and altogether delightful. Even the actors with the smallest roles are hilarious, and the four principals--Cleese and Palin (the Brits), Curtis and Kline (the Yanks)--are gloriously funny. The Deluxe Edition is brimming with outtakes, commentary, and all that's needed to justify the price. But remember: "Don't call [him] stupid."
For the fan of classic Cleese, you will not be disappointed. This movie is blessed with a spectacular cast and a superb script. The comic timing and sheer talent of the cast, make this one of the most enjoyable movies I've ever watched. There are so many memorable scenes in this movie, it is difficult to describe without resorting to spoilers. One thing I will say, however, is that this film has made an indellible impact on my family. Hardly a family gathering will go by, without someone saying, "Oh do shut up, Porche!" Some of the most hilarious scenes, in my opinion, are between Otto (Kevin Kline) and Ken (Micheal Palin). Strangely, even though the character's are supposed to be a band of thieves, you can't help but almost root for this gang of underdogs. Speaking of Dogs, some of the scenes may not appeal to animal lovers. However, these scenes are handled in a fairly cartoonish and very "Monty Python" fashion, so I don't think they will insult the sensibilities of most viewers. This movie was given an R rating, mostly for dialog and a brief view of Cleese's buttocks, but I doubt that it would even receive a PG-13 rating now. While it is not a movie I'd recommend for young children, as the humor is likely to be over their heads, I recommend this as one of the funniest movies I've seen in the last 15 years!
The movie is in great shape, and the extras are worth the money. The cast interviews were quite revealing. Jamie Lee tells who she thinks the best kisser was among Kline, Palin, and Cleese. And you find out if Cleese really was hung out a window or if it was just special effects. Cleese's running commentary was worth sitting through, even for me, and I usually hate those things. The deleted scenes weren't very interesting--just shots, really, not even full scenes. Overall, though, I'm very glad I bought it!
This is a great set of CD's. The disc describing the making of the movie is as amuzing as the movie itself. The story line of the movie is a typical example of English odd ball humor. No Amercan writer could have possibly invented it. Not many comedies can be viewed more than once but this one will make you laugh no matter how many times you view it.
based on 121 reviews
