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 | emotional manipulation | emotional vulnerability | cheating husband | abandoned by father | 

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Taglines:

Dishes. Relationships. Wind. This guy breaks everything.

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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:

A Culpa é do 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

Geena Davis and Beverly D'Angelo were both considered for the role of Janie.

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Goofs

As Fred tries to pull his head out of the fridge, you can see his real hair under his arm.

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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 Nostalgia Critic: The Emoji Movie (2018)

User Reviews

Great Movie!!

This movie is a CLASSIC film about the relationship children have with their imaginary friends...even if when they're grown up the friends come back. If you think about it, she WASN'T HAPPY! She was lonely! What do little kids do when they aren't happy or lonely? They make up friends that come to their rescue and make them happy again. Some times, even as adults, a person needs to make up their friends to feel loved and good again. Trust me, I know! I'm 17 years old and STILL have imaginary friends. This movie is great! I have been watching it since it first came out and it just gets better and better each time I watch it! Who ever doesn't like this movie either A) has no funny bone...or B) is...and I quote Fred, "A Mega Beast!" who should "P*** off!"