Drop Dead Fred | | Cast : | Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall | | Director : | Ate de Jong | | Studio : | Lions Gate Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | April 19, 1991 | | DVD Released Date : | July 22, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 11, 2005 | | Summary | a memorable flick | Content
 | I remember thinking after seeing this film in the theatre at 15,"This is by far the stupidest movie I have ever seen." I now say it isn't the stupidest, just one of the stupidest.
It is abouta 26 yr. old woman named Lizzy who is very messed up emotionally due to her troubled childhood. When her husband leaves her, her childhood imaginary friend named Drop Dead Fred comes back into her life. The only one who believes her is her childhood friend Mickey who also pops back into her life during her (as well as his) divorce.
There is a lot of vulgarity in this film. I didn't think all the curse words were necessary and Drop Dead Fred was far from childlike in terms of innocence. However, I have rented the film many times mainly because Mickey is hot and also there are some hilarious scenes that still make me double over with laughter. The funniest is when Lizzy and Mickey are eating in a restaurant and Fred appears and physically makes Lizzy do all kinds of crazy stuff. Of course no one can see Fred, so Mickey and everyone in the restaurant think she is voluntarily flinging food around the place, making strange gestures, etc. The little girl who played Lizzy as a kid is precious.
This is definitely not a film for young children. Not only is there some sexual humor and nudity, but also the scenes where Lizzy's mother is verbally abusing her are upsetting. I think parents need to really pay attention to what their kids are watching. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 24, 2005 | | Summary | Did you have an invisible friend? | Content
| There is a time in ones life when they are in need or at least are open to the concept of an invisible friend. However at a certain age this becomes an absurd idea and therefore the friend must leave. The concept has been put forth in many movies such as "The Curse of the Cat People" (1944), and books such as "Peter Pan" or "Mimsy Were the Borogroves" by Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moor,
which depicts a child's mindset as alien to those of humans.
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Elizabeth As a child (Ashley Peldon) had her share of problems as a friend and also had her own supposedly imaginary-friend "Drop Dead Fred" (Rik Mayall). Of whom she was supposed to outgrow. She had a little help from her mother who locked Fred away in a Jack-in-the-box.
Now Elizabeth (Phoebe Cates) is once again having problems with a recent divorce along with many other disasters. She makes the strategic error of moving back home. She finds where Fred is confined and pretends to frees him; guess who she finds out is not imaginary and is still waiting as if time had not passed at all. This happens when one goes home again. Now Fred is appalled to find that Snot Face is all grown up and that she even did it like the pigeons. How ever Fred is just as mischievous, ornery, and destructive as ever.
It is up to the two codependent entities to help free each other from a static situation; Liz needs to grow up and Fred needs to move on the next kid. In the process Elizabeth meats a girl Natalie (Kelly Benson), that seems to be annoying the babysitter. And she claims it was "You know who".
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Will Elizabeth finally take control of her life and out grow the need for Fred?
If so will she ever see him again?
The movie is worth it on different levels or diffident angles. We have the fun of the interacting and antics of Fred, Elisabeth and boogers. There is a true underlying psychological story that includes a trip through ones mind. And Phoebe is almost too cute and can make you forget what you are watching.
"I forgot to give you something!"
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| Rating | | | Date | July 15, 2005 | | Summary | Drop Dead Fred--One of the Most Underrated Films of Our Time | Content
| Most conventional corporate media critics hated this film. They hated its sentimental nature and missed its dark underside about children coping with mentally abusive and smothering parents. They hated Rik Mayall's antics, not understanding that he represents everyone's "id," to use an admitted cliche-ridden term. And worse, they don't see how brilliant Phoebe Cates is in playing off Mayall and never once losing our sympathy for her--and even allowing us to understand why she needs Drop Dead Fred.
The scene at the psychiatrist's office with the other imaginary friends is profound in showing us how fragile our children are and why we adults should be more understanding of their need for magic and love. Sentimental, yes? The irony of our modern time is that it's okay to show meanspiritedness and violence in films (think of that putz, Quentin Tarantino) or humor that is based upon a view of "up yours, loser" (Seinfeld). But, to have humor based upon sympathy, or feelings of powerlessness, and our generalized fears of the world--Heaven forbid!
In closing, I note the reviewers preceding me who attack this film have nothing of substance to say about the film. They offer the same whine of phony superiority that somehow causes them to believe they need no reason at all to explain their shallow opinions. Pathetic. Although...maybe they are in need of an imaginary friend, too? |
| Rating | | | Date | February 26, 2005 | | Summary | I forgot to give you something... your review! | Content
| I have loved this movie since I was a child, and recently found a brand new copy in a thrift store for $1.50. $1.50!!!!
This movie is much deeper than it seems, and Phoebe (Elizabeth) and Rik (DDF) do a fantastic job playing off each other. Fred is the imaginary friend I wished I had as a child. Elizabeth is the little girl next door that almost everyone knew.
Yes, it's really silly at times, trippy at others, but it always tugs at your heart. Amidst all the craziness, there is a little piece of all of us in this movie. And that's why it works. |
| Rating | | | Date | December 08, 2004 | | Summary | Drop Dead Fred | Content
| Whenever I think of Drop Dead Fred, I can't help but think of the band Right Said Fred. Not that they're in the movie or anything, but the names sure are similar.
As for the movie - it's got both Phoebe Cates and Carrie Fisher in it, so it's definitely worth seeing. Besides the fact that they're both babes, this is also a very funny movie. Rik Mayall cracks me up. |
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