Fierce Creatures (1997)

Zookeepers struggle to deal with the policies of changing directors.

Directors:

Fred Schepisi, Robert Young

Writers:

John Cleese, Iain Johnstone

Stars:

John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cleese	...	Rollo Lee
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Willa Weston
Kevin Kline	...	Vince McCain / Rod McCain
Michael Palin	...	Bugsy Malone
Ronnie Corbett	...	Reggie Sealions
Carey Lowell	...	Cub Felines
Robert Lindsay	...	Sydney Small Mammals
Bille Brown	...	Neville Coltrane
Derek Griffiths	...	Gerry Ungulates
Cynthia Cleese	...	Pip Small Mammals
Richard Ridings	...	Hugh Primates
Maria Aitken	...	Di Admin
Michael Percival	...	Ant Keeper
Fred Evans	...	Flamingo Keeper
Lisa Hogan	...	Sealion Keeper

Storyline

A massive corporate conglomerate, Octopus Inc., run by a shrewd and cruel tycoon named Rod McCain, purchases a UK-based leisure company, and also the failing London Marwood Zoo. To bring more business to the zoo, Octopus hires a new manager, Rollo Lee, who promptly comes up with a way to increase profits-do away with all the animals except for the ferocious ones. This new Fierce Creatures Policy shocks the Marwood zookeepers, led by the unendingly talkative Adrian "Bugsy" Malone. Eventually, Rod McCain's son Vince, along with the up-and-coming business executive Willa Weston, take control of the zoo and revoke the Fierce Creatures Policy. Vince instead comes up with many under-handed and vicious schemes to attract customers-unauthorized celebrity endorsements, shoddy, overpriced zoo merchandise, and using robotic animals instead of real ones. However, Vince is also stealing from the zoo's funds, and when his father finds out, he rears to turn the zoo into a Japanese-owned golf course....

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Plot Keywords:

zoo | black comedy | father son relationship | father and son played by same actor | farce | 

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Taglines:

Don't pet them.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual innuendo and language

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Studios Home Entertainment [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death Fish II

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,759,480, 26 January 1997

Gross USA:

$9,381,260

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,381,260

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Fish Productions, Jersey Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR DTS-Stereo Dolby Digital (5.1 surround) (DVD version) Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the action of the film takes place in the Marwood Zoo. Marwood is John Cleese's middle name.

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Goofs

When Vince is yelling, "He's talking to himself, and I'm the loony?" the second shot has him saying something else, possibly the first part of the line again.

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Quotes

[Rollo is pushing a wheeled cage containing a lemur he's supposed to have shot]
Vince McCain: What are you doing with that?
Rollo Lee: Uh... oh, the lemur?
Vince McCain: Yeah.
Rollo Lee: Oh, just putting it back in its enclosure.
Vince McCain: Why'd you take it out?
Rollo Lee: Ahhhhh... for a walk... you know, exercise.
Vince McCain: It can hardly move in there.
Rollo Lee: Ah, no, no, the exercise is for me.
Vince McCain: So what do you need that for?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

No animals were injured during the making of this movie, only humans.

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Alternate Versions

The entire ending of "Fierce Creatures" was reshot after test showings. The original featured the elder McCain [Kevin Kline] being killed by a rhino and some business with a tiger costume. A scene in which Kevin Kline plays his own mother was also shot and cut.

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Connections

Referenced in The John Cleese Interview (1998)

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Soundtracks

Hungry Heart
Written and performed by Bruce Springsteen

User Reviews

A Lemur Called Rollo

Let me take it out of my system first. There never will be another A Fish Called Wanda. That comedy was one and only, perfect, brilliant, mean, witty, the best film about culture clashes, the best backstabbing comedy, the best - everything. For me, Wanda is a Citizen Kane of the comedy. Period. What makes is outstanding, are the four partners in crime as written by John Cleese and played by Cleese himself, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin, and Kevin Kline that were simply incredible, and, let's face it, despite being criminals and back-stabbers, you would love them all. I know I did.

When Fierce Creatures was released 12 years ago, I ran to see it and I was bitterly disappointed. I expected Wanda, Part 2 - which is impossible because ...see the first paragraph. Last night I caught FC on TV and I have to admit that it IS a good and funny film. It knows that it is a follow up to A Fish Called Wanda. It references to the perfect predecessor, makes you laugh, and lets you meet again with the fabulous four and many supporting players from Wanda. Fierce Creatures has gained Cult Status with years, and I am now a part of its following. The script was written by John Cleese and the plot is convoluted and silly at the same time. The best, the funniest moments play off mistaken assuming that John Cleese's character Rollo, ex-cop appointed the London Marwood Zoo Director, is a sexy beast for whom one woman is not enough. The scenes between Cleese (Rollo Lee) and Willa Weston, an American business-woman (Jamie Lee Curtis) are the funniest. The weakest links in the movie are IMO Michael Palin who unlike his character Ken in AFCW can talk and he just would never shut up. His character became boring and annoying very soon. The same sadly should be said about Kevin Kline playing two roles, the Australian billionaire Ron McClain, ruthless, obnoxious, and vulgar, and his weakling loser son Vince whom his father despises. Needless to say there is not much love lost between an arrogant father and his estranged son. The film has so many hilarious jokes and witty references not only to A Fish Called Wanda but to Monty Python series that by the time of the conclusion, I had enough fun and laughs to tolerate and forgive the loud and messy final act.