Fierce Creatures

1997 "Don't pet them."
6.4| 1h33m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 24 January 1997 Released
Producted By: Universal Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.universalstudiosentertainment.com/fierce-creatures/
Synopsis

Ex-policeman Rollo Lee is sent to run Marwood Zoo, the newly acquired business of a New Zealand tycoon. In order to meet high profit targets and keep the zoo open, Rollo enforces a new 'fierce creatures' policy, whereby only the most impressive and dangerous animals are allowed to remain in the zoo. However, the keepers are less enthusiastic about complying with these demands.

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Reviews

Thehibikiew Not even bad in a good way
Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
Celia A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
asoapboxopera There are plenty of tie-ins, and of course, the cast remains relatively intact, but the film itself, despite its few good surprises, is tremendously predictable and contrived. This is not to say there aren't good jokes; there are. And almost all of them come from or are at the expense of Vince, played by the marvelously funny Kevin Kline. A pet peeve of mine (and that truly was not a pun) is poorly done vulgarity; this is not a glowing endorsement of all vulgarity, but if you do it, do it correctly. The moments between Rollo (John Cleese) and Willa (Wanda- I mean Jamie Lee Curtis) are even more forced than in A Fish Called Wanda, which was at least part deliberate. The disbelief felt by Vince was so spectacular and of course intentional, but the unbelievability of it remained unmitigated. The strange thing is it almost seems they have less chemistry here than they do in "Wanda". It really is fully half as fun as A Fish Called Wanda, though, and since that one was an 8/10, technically this would be 4/10, especially due to the contrived and predictable moments, both of plot and reaction thereto. But those fun parts really do shine, as do the good quotes, almost entirely written for Vince, and perfectly portrayed by Kevin Kline.
SimonJack Although it has the three main characters from "A Fish Called Wanda," this film sure isn't a sequel to that one. It's a whole new plot, and though not quite a funny as their first, the three stars still are quite hilarious here."Fierce Creatures" pokes a lot of fun at a lot of things – most, very subtly. The PG-13 rating is right on. I suspect whomever decides those things did so here because some children might be offended because they don't understand the treatment of animals. Actually, the film is quite adult in its humor with its subtle sexual innuendos. They are mostly very funny. Most young teens today probably wouldn't get them either. This movie clearly was made for adults, and it's a real hoot. I don't know any other comedy actor today who can play the naïve (almost) innocent guy of good intentions who turns out to be such a buffoon. John Cleese (as Rollo Lee) always nails such roles. Those, and his sardonic Basil Fawlty are great sources for tons of laughter. All the roles are played well here. Kevin Kline is very good in his double role. His Rod McCain seems overblown, but I suspect it's meant to be so, and is still quite funny. Some of the greatest humor is in the scenes where we see Jamie Lee Curtis as Willa Weston, and her look of fantasy with a smile on her face. They happen each time there are innuendos of Cleese's Rollo having various sexual trysts. One can imagine her thoughts. This is a very funny film that many people are sure to like. Here are some sample lines to whet one's appetite. The zoo staff is trying to convince Rollo, the new zoo manager, that their small animals are ferocious. Rollo wants to feature the ferocious and scary to draw more crowds. Sydney, played by Robert Lindsay, has a sign up warning people about the dangerous meerkats. Rollo tells him it's preposterous. Sydney, "Oh, you've never been attacked by one, sir." Rollo, "Nobody's been attacked by one. Or, rather, if they have they never noticed."Rollo, "Look, look. I have to be hard-nosed. All the time. I mean McCain demands it. All the time. You've gotta be tough, tough, tough. God knows why." Willa. "You mean Octopus is ruled by fear?" Rollo, "No. No. By terror."No other zoos will take their small animals. Rollo tells the staff they will have to dispose of them. They bring the animals to him to shoot. Pip, played by Cynthia Cleese, says, "You will make it quick, sir, won't you?" Rollo, "What? You mean I'm not allowed to torture them a bit first just for fun? " Pip, "You wouldn't do that?" Rollo, "I wasn't serious, you stupid girl." Later, the zoo staff are gathered and they hear shots. They find Rollo patting the dirt on top of several apparent graves. They think he shot the small animals. Until later when they discover he has them as pets in his apartment.If this were a Marx Brothers film (in place of the three leads), it would be called "A Day at the Zoo."
hoshea-morini Any one of the comic scenarios the film-makers bring up would be worth exploring to the end. The fact that they cannot seem to keep one satirical conceit going for any stretch, and feel the need to overhaul the plot in a new direction every twenty minutes or so, definitely lessens the impact the movie could have had. And yet, for example: just because the writers beg off early on the "fierce creatures" idea doesn't make it any less hilarious - both as a concept and in execution. The scenes of the kindly zookeepers trying to sell their individual cute little animals as dangerous is one of the funniest scenes in the movie. But then, later, when that concept has been forgotten, and we instead see Kevin Kline leading around a group of potential financial backers, giving them his notions of how corporate sponsorship could work at the zoo . . . well, that's one of the funniest scenes too. What I'm saying is, though a strong focus is something the film lacks, it makes up for it by filling its running time with enough entertaining and well devised comic moments to make you feel like you got your money's worth.The performances help. As in Fish Called Wanda, Jamie Lee Curtis is not particularly noteworthy as an actress OR a comedienne, but she gets by on her general sultriness and willingness to play cheerfully along. Most importantly, she keeps out of the way of the big boys and lets them do their stuff. As I mentioned, Cleese is a little moldier here than usual, but there's still no one who does high-strung fussiness better, and he holds down the screen nicely. As with Wanda, though, it's Kevin Kline who really steals the show - this time in a dual role, as the Murdoch-like head of the conglomerate and his stupid slimeball son who has big plans for the zoo (as well as getting into Curtis's pants). The sheer *energy* he throws out is infectious, and his ability to "play off" himself - in the scenes between father and son - is nothing short of superb. Blessedly, the dual role bit is revealed as more than just an actor's stunt by the way the movie is resolved: had Kline not been playing both roles, the movie could never end the way it does. That, too, was a nice touch.Genial, breezy, good spirted - this is Fierce Creatures. Nothing in the masterpiece league but, especially if you've seen A Fish Called Wanda, it's a nice evening spent with old friends - with some new and well devised jokes thrown into the mix.
namashi_1 A follow-up to the wildly popular 'A Fish Called Wanda', starring the same four legendary actors, John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Michael Palin. 'Fierce Creatures' is a Decent Flick, that hasn't managed a cult following, that is because, it's comparison is to a really mighty film! If a direct sequel, I also would've been a tad underwhelmed. But, as it plays it safe by claiming it as a follow up, I didn't go thinking of watching another 'Wanda'. To be honest, 'Fierce Creatures' is dumb, but at the same, it's funny, nonetheless.'Fierce Creatures' centers around a British zoo which has recently been acquired by New Zealand businessman Rod McCain played by Kline and put under the management of Rollo Lee played by Cleese. In order to boost profits, Lee decides to institute a "fierce creatures" policy that means, that only potentially deadly animals will be featured in the zoo.Clesse's Writing is funny at parts, but at times, it's dumb. Yet, I found the climax to be fairly entertaining. Fred Schepisi and Robert Young direct this comedy well. Cinematography, Editing, Art Design, are proper.Performance-Wise: Kline is excellent in both the roles, and truly is the funniest of the lot. Clesse, like always, gets his timing right. Jamie Lee Curtis is good. Michael Palin doesn't get much scope here. Robert Lindsay is passable.On the whole, A Decent One-Time Watch.