A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda is a 1988 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and written by Charlie Kaufman and John Cleese. The movie takes place in London and follows a diamond heist that goes awry. Archer John Willoughby (played by Ian Charleson), a charismatic but dim-witted safecracker, and George Thomason (played by Tom Georgeson), a gangster, orchestrate a heist on the home of Sir George (played by John Mills), a wealthy and elderly jewel merchant. They're after a collection of diamonds worth millions, hidden within the mansion's library. The diamonds belong to Sir George and are intended to be passed down to his family. However, things take a turn for the worse when George and Willoughby discover that the diamonds are hidden within a safe in the library that requires a combination. They manage to crack the safe, but soon after, they are caught in the act by Sir George. Before they can be apprehended, Wanda Gershwitz (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) and her husband, Ken (played by Michael Palin), enter the scene. Wanda is a con artist, with a flair for seduction, and Ken is a bank robber turned incompetent. Wanda had previously been involved with George, and the two are still involved romantically. Wanda and George concoct a plan to steal the diamonds. They attempt to double-cross each other and Sir George, while also dealing with Ken's constant incompetence. Wanda's primary goal is to obtain the diamonds, but she also has her own motivations for manipulating George. In addition to the gang's internal conflicts, there is also an external threat in the form of police inspector Charles Dreyfus (played by John Cleese). Dreyfus is obsessed with capturing George and, in the process, he develops his own motivations for capturing Sir George, but his primary motivation is actually capturing Wanda and George. Inspector Dreyfus starts the investigation, following up on a report of the theft, and his bumbling and often humorous interactions add to the movie's comedic elements. One of the main themes of the movie is the complexities of romantic relationships. Wanda manipulates the men in her life to suit her needs, including George, Ken, and Inspector Dreyfus. Meanwhile, George remains oblivious to Wanda's intentions, despite their tumultuous history. Throughout the movie, the characters' personalities and traits are showcased through the characters' witty banter and interactions. The film features impressive comedic timing from Cleese, as he showcases his skill in both writing and acting.