Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Phoebe Cates | ... | Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Cronin | |
Rik Mayall | ... | Drop Dead Fred | |
Marsha Mason | ... | Polly Cronin | |
Tim Matheson | ... | Charles | |
Carrie Fisher | ... | Janie | |
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Keith Charles | ... | Murray |
Ashley Peldon | ... | Young Elizabeth | |
Daniel Gerroll | ... | Nigel Cronin | |
Ron Eldard | ... | Mickey Bunce | |
Eleanor Mondale | ... | Attractive Customer | |
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Bob Reid | ... | Judge Dubben |
Peter Thoemke | ... | Arsonist | |
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Sjoukje De Jong Douma | ... | Grandma Bunce |
Paul Holmes | ... | Man in Speedboat | |
Steve Cochran | ... | Waiter #1 |
A young woman who's attempting to find her place in the world battles with her controlling mother and a womanizing husband finds comfort and confusion with the appearance of her childhood friend. It is a zappy movie that emphasizes self-actualization. Written by C. Marshall
Here's a little gem most everyone hated and totally misunderstood! Able to be loved by younger kids and laughed-at by the more "balanced" adults, DROP DEAD FRED is just fun. That's all it was ever meant to be! My children "grew up" with this film in our library and we have seen it probably 30 - 40 times over the years.
For those with absolutely no humor or sense of childhood-wonder still, you would be doing yourself a big favor to miss this flick. Rik Mayall (who never cut it for me particularly) is Phoebe's imaginary childhood friend made flesh and come back to haunt her. True, he is tasteless, inspirationally trouble-making and a straight-up fruit-cake, but surely wouldn't that make for the ideal imaginary friend? I laughed at the reviewer claimed "her" imaginary friend had way better taste and wouldn't be seen dead acting like "Fred"....pity her! I had one too...a couple of back-ups even and they would have LOVED Fred!
The entire point of the film is brought to bear at the very conclusion of the film when Phoebe realises she has finally grown up and Fred knows it is time to "move-on." Personally I found this extremely touching, but there again, I never grew up!
Manic Mayall was born for this one role and he makes the most of it. The restaurant scene with Cates, who is just so cool, elegant and stylish throughout, is laugh-out-loud funny...again, IF you have a sense of humor. Prudes may well be offended by some of Mayall's antics, my four children weren't! Slate the film all you wish, it remains a total ONE-OFF.....name another like it!
Wonderful little bit of stupidity and like I said, if they make them cuter than Cates, I've missed the boat!