Drop Dead Fred (1991)

A young woman finds her already unstable life rocked by the presence of a rambunctious imaginary friend from childhood.

Director:

Ate de Jong (as Ate De Jong)

Writers:

Elizabeth Livingston (story), Carlos Davis

Stars:

Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, Marsha Mason

Cast

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
Keith Charles	...	Murray
Ashley Peldon	...	Young Elizabeth
Daniel Gerroll	...	Nigel Cronin
Ron Eldard	...	Mickey Bunce
Eleanor Mondale	...	Attractive Customer
Bob Reid	...	Judge Dubben
Peter Thoemke	...	Arsonist
Sjoukje De Jong Douma	...	Grandma Bunce
Paul Holmes	...	Man in Speedboat
Steve Cochran	...	Waiter #1

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

imaginary friend | bedtime story | domineering mother | adulterous husband | self discovery | 

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Taglines:

With imaginary friends like THIS, who needs enemies?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drop Dead Fred

Filming Locations:

2014 Humboldt Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,788,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$43,878,334

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writers Anthony Fingleton and Carlos Davis wrote the part of Fred just for Rik Mayall, who even threw ideas into the script, such as the opening where Elizabeth's mother reads her a bedtime story and Fred sinking the houseboat. Phoebe Cates also came up with an idea where in some shots Drop Dead Fred is seen and in other shots he isn't seen.

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Goofs

After Fred is taped into the box Lizzy wipes her tears away with her muddy hands but her face stays clean.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Polly: And the prince took the beautiful young girl in his arms and said, will you marry me? Yes, she whispered, I will be your princess.
Young Elizabeth: Did they live happily ever after?
Polly: Of course, Elizabeth.
[tucking her in]
Young Elizabeth: How do you know?
Polly: Because she was a good little girl. If she had been naughty, the prince would have run away.
Young Elizabeth: What a pile of shit!

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: The Apple (2014)

User Reviews

Fred is REAL!

I am amazed by the amount of people who have discussed this movie in the terms of being about "mental illness".... it should become clear by the end of the movie that this is a fantasy, Fred is not an imaginary friend he is "real" he exists and his sole purpose in life is to help children in a dark place and bring them out of themselves. Imaginary friends do not move on to another child, imaginary friends are the property of those who imagine them. I wouldn't be at all surprised if I saw a review of "Gremlins" on here by the same people who said "nasty little creatures who create distruction around them are not funny". This is a funny movie, plain and simple. Rick Mayall is outstanding as Fred and Phoebe Cates gives the perfect performance as the downtrodden daughter and wife. Anyone who says bad things about this movie has obviously never seen a fantasy movie before and taken it for what it is. I am surprised that they didn't call Demi Moore delusional in "Ghost" because she was refusing to let go of her boyfriend and "imagined" all the stuff that went on. This is a fantasy folks, a pure unadulterated fantasy and it is a bloody funny one at that. Watch it, it will make you laugh, it will make you smile, and it will make you chuckle.... what more can you ask and again Rick Mayall is brilliant.