FIERCE CREATURES (PG-13)
Directed by Robert Young & Fred Schepisi Running Time: 93 minutes Originally Released: January 24, 1997
Reviewed by E. Benjamin Kelsey
* * ½ (out of four)
If there's one thing I hate, it's movies where adults acting juvenile is meant to be humorous. You know, those films where we see adults making vulgar remarks, farting, belching, and pulling silly faces. I was so sure that's what I was in for about two minutes into FIERCE CREATURES that I jumped to the conclusion it would be one of the worst films of the year. Luckily there's a thing called improvement.
The cast of 1988's A FISH CALLED WANDA reunites nearly a decade later for yet another wild comedy caper, this time surrounding the possible shutdown of a zoo in Great Britain that was recently acquired by multi-billion dollar industry, Octopus Inc. Kevin Kline, who won an Oscar for his performance in the aforementioned film, plays a duel role as Octopus Inc. president Rod McCain and his chauvinistic son, Vince. When the Marwood Zoo is taken under the wings of the company, Vince finds himself traveling to England along with Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis), the seductive independent-woman type whose business knowledge is hoped to improve the dwindling profit brought in by the zoo. Right off the bat we're introduced to unfunny jokes such as "Are your breasts real?". Why this is considered funny, I'll never know, and why Curtis' character seems to react to every sexual-harassing comment with silent flattery is another mystery.
When they actually arrive in England, things start to pick up pace, and if you haven't given up on the film by then, you're actually in for quite a few treats. Here we are introduced to Rollo Lee (John Cleese), a seemingly snooty and self-absorbed zoo director whose plan for improving zoo profits involves discarding all the furry, loveable animals and keeping only "fierce creatures" on display. Once they got involved with the events taking place in the zoo, signs of redemption begin making themselves known, and after the twenty or so minutes of absolute awfulness, something wonderful happened. I found myself laughing. Amazingly, it was something I found myself doing often from then on out.
The idea to turn the zoo into a vicious-animal museum is soon forgotten as Vince barges in and takes over. Putting Rollo in his place, he turns the zoo into an advertising haven, where banners and posters for various companies hang from every available structure, the zoo keeps uniforms start resembling those worn by NASCAR racers, and illegitimate celebrity endorsements for varying creatures are boasted. A lot of ideas sparkle with potential but aren't fully realized as our attention turns more toward a possible Rollo- Willa romance and a conniving Vince out to embezzle millions. Still, there is a surprising amount of well-done physical comedy to keep us laughing without insulting us with immature slapstick. It's just that those moments of immaturity keep creeping up.
What brings FIERCE CREATURES down so much is several self-induced humor wounds. Just as you begin forgetting how terrible things started out, they throw in an off-balance joke that is so moronic, you worry everything good will be lost. It becomes a comedic roller coaster, reaching fairly high, gliding, and then plummeting very sharply to the trenches once again. Cleese is who makes this worthwhile, and even with the always-strong Kline on board, it's obvious that without Cleese, this film would have nothing. Cleese's mixture of flubbering nervousness, yet self-righteous arrogance provides the biggest laughs, which is in dire need alongside the consistently annoying Curtis. (Personal note: why Curtis was ever considered sexy is one of the great mysteries I've come to encounter in the world of cinema, ranking right up there with John Leguizamo being considered a comic "talent")
FIERCE CREATURES is actually a highly enjoyable film bogged down with a high tally of misfires. What could have been one of the funnest comedies of the year has too many reminders of why it isn't. All this film needed to do to win me over was grow up a little, but that was something it refused to do. Why watching a group of adults acting more vulgar and base than a group of junior high students is considred entertainment to some is beyond me. Sadly, FIERCE CREATURES tests this theory a bit too much.
FIERCE CREATURES is one worth checking out on video, and if you utilize the stale moments to jump up for another can of soda, this just might be the perfect movie after all.
December 28, 1997
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