A good friend of mine, Aleah, asked me to review this DVD. I admit, this isn't a movie I would have originally put into my queue. I've watched a couple movies this week that I would have been more likely to review.
For example, I watched Freedomland. Now that was a strange movie. I also watched Lady in the Water, an M. Night Shyamalan movie. More than likely, I would have selected Lady in the Water to review. But, the way I see it, if you're going to review DVDs you need to step out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons.
So, it is with mixed emotions that I must reveal that I secretly enjoyed this movie. Read on to find out why.
For example, I watched Freedomland. Now that was a strange movie. I also watched Lady in the Water, an M. Night Shyamalan movie. More than likely, I would have selected Lady in the Water to review. But, the way I see it, if you're going to review DVDs you need to step out of your comfort zone and expand your horizons.
So, it is with mixed emotions that I must reveal that I secretly enjoyed this movie. Read on to find out why.
Drop Dead Fred is a simple comedy starring Phoebe Cates and Rik Mayall. Don't expect to see Phoebe do any obligatory, topless scenes as she did in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. On behalf of all teens of the 80's, I want to take this opportunity to thank her for doing that scene. It was the object of many wonderful dreams I had.
Drop Dead Fred utilizes slapstick and situational comedy to compel the viewer to laugh. At times it's pretty funny - at others, it's a little lacking. I imagine that in 1991 it might of been pretty humorous.
Phoebe assumes the role of Lizzy, a twenty-something court reporter that has a horrendous day. She breaks up with her husband, ( Tim Matheson ) , ( who's fooling around with her ), her purse gets stolen from her car, then her car gets stolen, then she gets fired. After seeking help from a friend, Carrie Fisher, she decides to move back home with her controlling mother ( Marsha Mason ). Shortly after doing this her childhood, imaginary friend, Drop Dead Fred ( Mayall ), returns to wreak more havoc in her life until she is happy again.
Although we are led to believe that Lizzy will be happy only when she is reunited with her husband, she might very well find happiness elsewhere. The reason that I did enjoy this movie, even though the comedy often missed the mark for me, is that there was a deeper message.
The movie uses flashbacks to re-visit Lizzy's youth to show the audience that her mother was a very cold, critical woman that, in one scene, tells Lizzy that she, "...wasn't sure she loved her as much as she used to." Consequently, many of the mischievous deeds that Fred and Lizzy entertain themselves with often cause even more turmoil between Lizzy and her mother. For example, one of the first pranks that we see Fred pull is him decorating Lizzy's mother's recently shampooed carpet and complimenting furniture with dog poo. After sinking her friend's boat and humiliating herself in a restaurant and string ensemble at the mall, her mother takes her to a psychiatrist who specializes in treating children with imaginary friends. She receives a prescription, consisting of green pills, that she must take to make Fred go away. She goes back to live with her husband and make it all work now that she has the pills. With Fred's help she realizes that her husband is still cheating with the other woman. If she really wants Fred to go away, she has to take control of her life and learn to stand up to the people who are controlling her. She realizes that she is measuring her happiness by trying to please people whom she cannot please and take advantage of her.
That's why I liked this movie. There was something more to it. Fred was more than a troublemaker. He is a manifestation of everyone's childhood woes that compel us to break free of the apron strings and become who we want to become. He is the one in all of us that wants to tell our dysfunctional parents to go to hell and while they're at it, here's a mudpie on your beautiful lace, doily.
Drop Dead Fred utilizes slapstick and situational comedy to compel the viewer to laugh. At times it's pretty funny - at others, it's a little lacking. I imagine that in 1991 it might of been pretty humorous.
Phoebe assumes the role of Lizzy, a twenty-something court reporter that has a horrendous day. She breaks up with her husband, ( Tim Matheson ) , ( who's fooling around with her ), her purse gets stolen from her car, then her car gets stolen, then she gets fired. After seeking help from a friend, Carrie Fisher, she decides to move back home with her controlling mother ( Marsha Mason ). Shortly after doing this her childhood, imaginary friend, Drop Dead Fred ( Mayall ), returns to wreak more havoc in her life until she is happy again.
Although we are led to believe that Lizzy will be happy only when she is reunited with her husband, she might very well find happiness elsewhere. The reason that I did enjoy this movie, even though the comedy often missed the mark for me, is that there was a deeper message.
The movie uses flashbacks to re-visit Lizzy's youth to show the audience that her mother was a very cold, critical woman that, in one scene, tells Lizzy that she, "...wasn't sure she loved her as much as she used to." Consequently, many of the mischievous deeds that Fred and Lizzy entertain themselves with often cause even more turmoil between Lizzy and her mother. For example, one of the first pranks that we see Fred pull is him decorating Lizzy's mother's recently shampooed carpet and complimenting furniture with dog poo. After sinking her friend's boat and humiliating herself in a restaurant and string ensemble at the mall, her mother takes her to a psychiatrist who specializes in treating children with imaginary friends. She receives a prescription, consisting of green pills, that she must take to make Fred go away. She goes back to live with her husband and make it all work now that she has the pills. With Fred's help she realizes that her husband is still cheating with the other woman. If she really wants Fred to go away, she has to take control of her life and learn to stand up to the people who are controlling her. She realizes that she is measuring her happiness by trying to please people whom she cannot please and take advantage of her.
That's why I liked this movie. There was something more to it. Fred was more than a troublemaker. He is a manifestation of everyone's childhood woes that compel us to break free of the apron strings and become who we want to become. He is the one in all of us that wants to tell our dysfunctional parents to go to hell and while they're at it, here's a mudpie on your beautiful lace, doily.
Thanks for reviewing one of the movies that I am sure I'm not alone in considering a "classic." I'm glad you enjoyed it!
It will forever be one of my favorites... I just love Drop Dead Fred!
I love DDF! One of my all time fav's! Loads of fun to watch with the kiddos :)
I love this movie too. I remember that my Mother always hated it though...hmmm interesting.