Fierce Creatures

PG-13

Released Jan 24, 1997

1 hr. 33 min.

Comedy

List

53%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After multimillionaire Rod McCain (Kevin Kline) buys a London zoo, the staff is pressured to make higher profits or face closure. McCain assigns the lovely Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis) to supervise the zoo, particularly its misguided director, Rollo Lee (John Cleese). In an effort to increase attendance, Lee decides that only aggressive animals should be displayed, horrifying insect specialist Adrian "Bugsy" Malone (Michael Palin). Amid the caged wildlife, romance and even murder ensue.

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Critics Consensus

Fierce Creatures reunites A Fish Called Wanda's talented ensemble for a comedy that, while not without its moments, suffers from diminishing returns.

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Amanda P

I don't know why people even compare it to a Fish Called Wanda. Sure the same actors but the plot, the overall feeling and everything else are completely different! We like this one way more. A classic if you just relax and allow yourself to enjoy it for what it is😜 allow yourself to sit back and laugh a little😆

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

georgan g

Dunno why so many say this isn't nearly as good as Wanda, as it is just as funny but in it's own way. As usual, Kevin Kline & John Cleese are hilarious with their lines being one joke right after another. Enjoyed myself!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A little background first: I remember reading a magazine article where John Cleese talks up this movie as being very funny. But later on I would learn that the original movie, after being shot, got a bad reception from preview audiences so they redid the whole thing. The revised version is hardly good either. A trite premise: a conglomerate head (based on Rupert Murdoch but not resembling him) happens to obtain a failing zoo as part of a major package purchase and wants to make it profitable by eliminating the "cuddly" animals and retaining the "fierce", and therefore supposedly exciting ones. (He's never heard of petting zoos?) Of course the people at the zoo try to resist the plan. A confusing plot, recycled and overused jokes, and poor performances by all involved make this a dud. I didn't like "A Fish Called Wanda" that much but it was certainly far better than this.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

chris k

There are moments of the same genius that made A Fish Called Wanda but in between is a movie that seems confused about what it wants to be. A farce? Not quite. An ensemble comedy? Misses that mark. Kevin Kline lacks the same roguish charm from AFCW as Rod McCain and John Cleese seems vaguely bored at times throughout. Ronnie Corbett plays largely a similar role to The Two Ronnies - inquisitive curiosity - but quite well. Overall the movie just lacks cohesion and feels the full effect of some late rewrites and reshooting. Not a disaster but neither is it a must-see by any stretch

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Tom M

It's not 'A Fish Called Wanda' but it has some very funny moments. Cleese is great, of course but Palin's character is simply annoying. Kline plays the idiot so well once again.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/20

Full Review

martin a

This film is an underrated gem. It is warm and funny and can be described as a black comedy with an amazing cast. The team have to prevent a Zoo from closing and must manipulate those in charge to change their minds and give the Zoo another chance, Tangled up in this is, of course, a love story, and some of the most adorable animals. I cannot find anything to dislike about this film and have watched it many times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Robert Young

Director

Fred Schepisi

Director

John Cleese

Rollo Lee

Jamie Lee Curtis

Willa Weston

Kevin Kline

Vince McCain

Michael Palin

Adrian "Bugsy" Malone

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 29, 2004

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2002

Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna

USA Today

The spirited cast of Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline and Monty Pythonites John Cleese and Michael Palin is willing. But this tossed-together trifle about an unassuming British zoo taken over by a money-mad Murdochian media mogul is weak.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Carrie R. Wheadon

Common Sense Media

Some funny moments peppered with lots of sexual innuendo.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 20, 2012

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Chock full of wacky misunderstandings and bawdy innuendo...

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 10, 2008

Full Review

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

A sporadically funny but very confused follow-up to A Fish Called Wanda.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2003

Full Review

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Synopsis

After multimillionaire Rod McCain (Kevin Kline) buys a London zoo, the staff is pressured to make higher profits or face closure. McCain assigns the lovely Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis) to supervise the zoo, particularly its misguided director, Rollo Lee (John Cleese). In an effort to increase attendance, Lee decides that only aggressive animals should be displayed, horrifying insect specialist Adrian "Bugsy" Malone (Michael Palin). Amid the caged wildlife, romance and even murder ensue.

Director: Robert Young, Fred Schepisi
Executive Producer: Steve Abbott
Screenwriter: John Cleese, Iain Johnstone
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Jersey Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 24, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.2M
Sound Mix: Surround

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