Rating: 
Summary: Underrated, good entertainment
Review: There's a scene that perfectly sums up this film and what it is ultimately about. It's not in this film: it's at the end of any stage production you might see of Peter Pan, at that moment when the actors ask the audience to clap if they believe in fairies, and the adults sigh wistfully. The same blend of melancholy and joy underlies the vision of this film.
Rik Mayall's manic style of acting (Mayall has said said he based Fred, like many of his comedy characters in the UK, on his tantrums as a child) has never found a more perfect and plausible outlet than here, as the 'imaginary' friend of Lizzie Cronyn (Phoebe Cates). It's a pity US audiences didn't take to Mayall, better known in the UK for playing Rick, Richie Rich, Alan B'Stard and Richard Richard in The Young Ones, Filthy Rich and Catflap, The New Statesman and Bottom, respectively. Robin Williams wouldn't have been much different in the role, I think. This is a compliment: the role requires a near-unique blend of physical comedy and inner warmth, both of which Mayall and Williams possess.
The only thing I wish to add to discussion - besides the fact that I've seen it a few times since 1994 when I bought it for a mate's birthday in England, and I've never once thought that Fred was either imaginary or some schizophrenic projection - is the sadness at work in the film. I've often thought the most desparing moments committed to film only occur within children's films. There is real sadness at many points in the film: when Lizzie never gets her letter answered; Mickey's confession to Lizzie before she enters the wine-tasting party, and when Lizzie confesses to Fred about the years that followed after he was taken away. And then there's the scene when Lizzie and Fred must finally part. The romance between Lizzie and Micky Bunce is refreshingly quirky too, as well as the suggestion in the last scene that the torch has been passed to Mickey's own small daughter. Despite his youthful experiences, Mickey doesn't believe Natalie when she says that 'Drop Dead Fred' did it. Lizzie, smiling wistfully, knows better and simply says: 'The next time you see that Drop Dead Fred, you send him my love.'
The film says more about childhood and adulthood than any other I can think of: think of the climactic dream-scene between the young and adult Lizzie.
The film makes you give a wistful sigh; we say goodbye to childhood, without ever wanting to.
But wasn't it fun when we...?
That's the underlying spirit of the film. Do watch it.
Rating: 
Summary: I sympathize with the cast and the scenery
Review: I enjoy watching this movie. It is comic, with mildly romping music in the background for a few funny bits. If you subtract the comedy, you are left with a cast of five major characters, plus two little girls, a few marriages breaking up, psychological problems for which the main character is supposed to take some green pills, and scenes shot in the Twin Cities, where the Mississippi River has some boats, one of which has two red paddlewheels. Drop Dead Fred wants to play pirates on that boat, which is the biggest catastrophe in the movie.
Except for the scene in the shrink's waiting room, only one character in this movie is playing a mother, but she dominates the early scenes. It is amazing how well a few lines can capture the mother and daughter situation:
I'm perfect the way that I am.
Don't disagree with your mother.
Now that we're home, everything is perfect.
As crazy as some of the situations get, things resolve reasonably well for the daughter. Drop Dead Fred has been locked up in a toy since the main character was a little girl, and Fred is not prepared for the sexual approach when her husband suddenly wants to make up, make out, or something. As he says, This isn't how the pigeons do it.
During a *what a lovely dress* conversation, Drop Dead Fred even feels like he is with two girls. The guys in this movie seem more clueless than usual, and they don't get much respect in lines like:
What are you doing?
I'm running for Congress! What does it look like I'm doing?
The cartoon credits at the beginning of the movie has some cute moves. A fisherman in a boat during the credit for casting might even remind some people of Minnesota. The Director of Photography credit should remind people of making sausage. The special effects whenever someone sneezes because of the gladiolas in a few scenes are funny enough to remember after you see them a few times. Even though they named this movie for Drop Dead Fred, he could easily be considered the worst part of the film. Really, whoever went after a bunch of pigeons with a shovel because an old friend got married?
Rating:
Summary: unusual? no it's just fred
Review: On the surface, "Drop Dead Fred" is a comedy. And as a comedy, it's a great one. Rik Mayall, of course, if very funny. Phoebe Cates displays a genuine talent for physical comedy in several scenes - at the restaurant, at the classical music concert, and at the wine tasting party. And I just LOVE the scream that Cates lets out when Fred scares her while she's standing in front of the mirror wiping the makeup off of her face. Carrie Fisher is also very funny as a super-rigid super-serious lawyer.However, at it's heart, this movie is a drama with some very serious issues and some very serious messages. Ultimately, this movie is about standing up for yourself. It's about taking control of your life. It's about standing up to defend yourself from the people who are tormenting you. Anyone who's ever been bullied stands to benefit from seeing this film. It really is a good form of therapy. You'll know that you're not alone. You'll know that there are other people who know how you feel. And that's one of the reaons why I love this movie so much. Of course another reaosn I love this movie is Phoebe Cates. Her characer here is so sweet and wonderful. How can any guy see this movie and not think he's in love with her? And honestly, I think she's a better actress when she keeps her clothes on, as she does here. Throughout the course of the movie, Cates displays just about every emotion that there is. She's truly a great actress. Kudos also go to Ashley Peldon, who does a remarkable job as the child version of Elizabeth. Tim Matheson does a perfect job portraying the jerk husband. Marsha Mason is fantastic as the evil mother. All the other actors do their jobs very well. Every role is cast perfectly. Every scene in the movie is necessary. Nothing is wasted. Every line of dialogue counts. The flashbacks to childdhood are integrated perfectly into the rest of the movie. There are some interesting camera angles here that I've never seen before. For example, in the flashback to where the mudpie gets made in the dining room, young Elizabeth is sitting on the chair, shaky and scared because her mother had just yelled at her. While the camera is focused on her, the camera pans 90 degrees, and then her face lights up with a smile and she says, "Hi Fred!" I've never seen that particular kind of camera shot before. I also like the way, later on when grown up Elizabeth is making the salad, the camera is *under* the pepper grinder. And during the end of the dream sequence towards the end of the movie, the various lighting and camera angles suggest a play that is being performed live on a stage. The low budget cheesy special effects give a nice, old fashioned touch to the film. For example, the cheap physical effects of gears and other things that are shown when Velcro Head's head explodes simply would not have had the same charm if it had been done in expensive CGI. The movie is timeless. The only real clue to when the movie takes place is that in the flashback to the breakfast scene, young Elizabeth's father is reading a newspaper with the heading about the first man on the moon. The best part of the movie, in my opinion, is the dream sequence, and everything that comes afterwards. The last 25 minutes of this movie are what really elevate it to what it is. This is the part that really moves me the most. Of course, in order to understand it, you need to see the entire movie. And that's a good thing, because the entire movie is worth watching. This is a movie for anyone who remembers what it's like to be a child, and for anyone who has a sense of fun and a love of life, and for anyone who's ever been hurt because of bullying. This movie has a big heart, a big sense of fun, a big sense of humor, and a big love of life.
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