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 band that plays at the high school reunion is "The Feelies", a favorite of Demme's. Demme shot the video for their song "Away".

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Beer is purchased in a convenience store in Pennsylvania (a PA Lottery sticker is on the door). Beer cannot be purchased in convenience stores in PA.

Quotes:

Audrey 'Lulu' Hankel: I hate you!
Ray Sinclair: [Screaming] I HATE YOU TOO!
Charlie Driggs: Lulu!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Glenn Close/Black Crowes (#18.9)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades

Two Movies In One

It's almost two films in one: a lighthearted sex fantasy ride for the first 50 minutes and then (when Ray Liotta appears) a suspenseful, violent thriller.

It's a strange movie, but certainly entertaining. However, I found that the more I watched this film, the more I didn't like it. It kept dropping ratings, from a 9 to a 7.6 to a 6. I guess I should have quit while I was ahead.

What annoyed me was Jeff Daniels and his role. What a irritating idiot! The only redeeming quality for watching him is to show how stupid we men act and have our lives ruined by the lure of sex from some young, pretty woman. Daniels constantly wears this stupid jerky smile on his face for that first hour unless Liotta wipes it off him.

Few people in the '80s and '90s could play psychotics was well as Liotta and few people in that same period could look and sound like such a sexy bimbo as Melanie Griffith, so both of them are effective in their roles. The only guy that is totally out of his element is Daniels, playing this huge boob (speaking of Griffith) who winds up reaping what he sows.

Yes, it still was an Interesting movie, but two viewings are enough.