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 | bedtime story | domineering mother | adulterous husband | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Josh Brolin, Michael J. Fox, Anthony Michael Hall, Matthew Modine, Keanu Reeves and Charlie Sheen were considered for the role of Mickey Bunce.

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Goofs

Just after Elizabeth's mother seals the box which Drop Dead Fred is in, a yellow tape-marker on the floor can be seen to the left of the marble-topped table and a blue one can be seen to the right.

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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 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Wild World of Batwoman (1993)

User Reviews

If they make them sexier than Phoebe Cates I want their addresses!

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!

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)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,625,648, 27 May 1991

Gross USA:

$13,878,334

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,878,411

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