8) A Fish Called Wanda
Barely contained within 1988’s award-winning heist comedy – written by John Cleese and Charles Crichton – are two characters deeply embroiled in a secretive, passionate affair. Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Otto (Kevin Kline) are two American con artists, enlisted by London gangster George Thomason (Tom Georgeson) to help him and his accomplice Ken (Michael Palin) with a jewel heist. Though they’re pretending to be brother and sister in order to con George, Otto ensures that they seize every moment they can to be alone and fulfil their desires – or rather, his desires.
Of all their scenes together, none are more hilarious than that which shows Otto follow through to completion. Knowing just how to make Wanda swoon, Otto halts his amateur ninja work-out, and begins to recite random Italian words – each of which causes Wanda to gradually disrobe. Yanking her knee-high boot from her foot, Otto stands proudly above her – inhaling from it deeply, then re-inflating it – giving him the appearance of a triumphant elephant. Continuing his seduction with a recitation of Mussolini’s name through her removed stocking, Otto dives upon Wanda – bursting into a chorus of Volare, before reaching a silent, cross-eyed climax.
This scene belongs to Kevin Kline, who justly received the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his performance. Filling him with ignorance and arrogance, he parades through the scene like a preening peacock – utterly convinced of his own sexual prowess. He continues his well-practiced mating ritual, right up until the point of orgasm – his orgasm. Because for all his energetic displays of virility, the audience can almost feel Wanda’s disappointment through the screen. And that’s hilarious.
– Sarah Myles
