Something Wild (1986)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writer:

E. Max Frye (written by)

Release Date:

7 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

Something Different Something Daring Something Dangerous

Plot:

A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.

Plot Keywords:

Yuppie | Handcuffs | Diner | Violence | Stabbing

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Charles Driggs
Melanie Griffith	...	Audrey Hankel
George 'Red' Schwartz	...	Counter Man (as George Schwartz)
Leib Lensky	...	Frenchy
Tracey Walter	...	The Country Squire
Maggie T.	...	Country Squire Bulldog
Patricia Falkenhain	...	Charlie's Secretary
Sandy McLeod	...	Graves' Secretary
Robert Ridgely	...	Richard Graves
Buzz Kilman	...	TV Newscaster
Kenneth Utt	...	Dad
Adelle Lutz	...	Rose
Charles Napier	...	Irate Chef
Jim Roche	...	Motel Philosopher
John Sayles	...	Motorcycle Cop

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | France:U | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Havana, Florida, USA

Company:

Religiosa Primitiva

Trivia:

The book that Audrey Hankel is reading on the first scene at the fast food is on Frida Kahlo.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the motel scene where Ray throws Audrey into the pool, she goes in with socks and sneakers on. Next shot shows her swimming out barefoot.

Quotes:

[Ray smashes glass door with a chair; enters]
Ray Sinclair: Hiya, Charlie.
Charlie Driggs: Ray!
[ray kicks a tray; tosses Charlie form his recliner; kicks the cabinet]
Ray Sinclair: Get up! Let's see what your made of, Charlie!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1987) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I'm a Believer

Unique, enjoyable black comedy from Johnathan Demme

It's easy to take actors like Ray Liotta and Jeff Daniels for granted with the benefit of hindsight. Both of them have had ups and (horrible) downs, crossing genres seamlessly or inexplicably. It can also be argued that neither one of them has been more gratifying, more liberated, more, well, wild than in their breakthrough roles in Johnathan Demme's road movie. With the help of Melanie Griffith's femme fatale they make a very interesting movie about finding your wild side, but also finding out about the nasty underbelly lurking beneath society's pickett fences.

After being accused of ripping off a diner, a yuppie accountant named Charles sets off on a wild road trip with the free-spirited Lulu. Along the way she manages to bring out something special in Charlie, accusing him of being a closet rebel. They decide to get themselves in various troublesome situations, like running out on roof-splittingly expensive restaurants. They soon run into trouble, however, when a former love of Lulu's (or Audrey's), Ray, turns up at her high school reunion, after what appears to be done time in a jail.

Demme's film switches from screwball situation comedy to black farce and then to an uncomfortable menace. At times we're not really sure what this woman wants with Charles, whether she is after money, scheming, or indeed really has fallen for our floppy-haired protagonist. Daniels injects his hapless hero with all the dopey charm and middle-class wit one could ever hope to see in an 80s suit-wearing yuppie. He wants to eschew his suburban divorce style for a rebellious wild-at-heart rebel, and insists upon doing it with the impulsive, slightly reckless, but utterly alluring Lulu. The problem is, when he discovers his wild side, he has to deal with the ensuing problems: He's just been made Vice-President at his firm - What would his work mates think? How does he deal with the psychotic ex-con boyfriend? Does he really know what this woman wants? He appears, for most of the movie, to be a sap, who could fall for more than he could handle. But coincidentally, he's a pretty good liar, so maybe he's no better than the rest of them.

But even if the underlying philosophy doesn't hit you, then the comedic set-pieces definitely should. One particular scene involving handcuffs, suspenders, a dinky motel and a a phone call to his work office particularly sticks in the mind. It's not often you get movies like this. Movies that share a good balance between intelligence and farce. How can you go wrong?