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Drop Dead Fred Details

1991 DVD Certificate 12.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 3804 members

A chaotic comic fantasy about Elizabeth, an ineffectual young woman (Phoebe Cates) who leaves her unfaithful husband and returns home only to be oppressed by her overbearing mother. She comes across one of her childhood toys, a Jack-in-the-box, in which her frustrated mother imprisoned Elizabeth's childhood "imaginary" friend .. Read more

Starring Rik Mayall, Phoebe Cates, Carrie Fisher, Marsha Mason
Director Ate De Jong
Genres Comedy

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Drop Dead Fred

A chaotic comic fantasy about Elizabeth, an ineffectual young woman (Phoebe Cates) who leaves her unfaithful husband and returns home only to be oppressed by her overbearing mother. She comes across one of her childhood toys, a Jack-in-the-box, in which her frustrated mother imprisoned Elizabeth's childhood "imaginary" friend Fred, many years ago. Low and behold she opens the box once more, and out springs Fred with 21 years of pranks stored up! The mischievous Fred enters Elizabeth's life like a whirlwind, shaking her out of her passivity with his outrageous antics. Egged on by her manic little sidekick and his hilarious escapades, a revitalised Elizabeth embarks on a campaign to win back her errant husband. Rik Mayall is perfectly mischievous and off-the-wall as the chaos-creating pal in this impish tale.

Starring Rik Mayall, Phoebe Cates, Carrie Fisher, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson
Director Ate De Jong
Studio UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time DVD: 1 hr 34 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 12.gif
Genres Comedy
Language English
Dubbed French, German, Russian
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
Released DVD: 28 Jun 2004
Production year: 1991
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of Drop Dead Fred

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    A high-energy performance by Rik Mayall in the title role (wearing a red fright wig) is the chief British interest in this largely uninteresting and unfunny comedy. It's the story of a grown woman (Phoebe Cates) who is revisited by the imaginary friend of her childhood (Mayall) on a mission to cheer her up at a bad time. It's a nice idea, but it falls between all available stools and ends up as a mess on the floor thanks to the poor execution. It's particularly irritating if you've seen the much better Harvey.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • This boisterous comedy allows Mayall to be completely naughty, to shock, to offend...and to exasperate beyond belief.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Drop Dead Fred

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  • 13 out of 13 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    So who's for snot flicking?

    Drop Dead Fred is a side-splittingly uproarious film, starring Rik Mayall as the extraordinary lead role - Drop Dead Fred. After splitting up with her boyfriend and losing her job, Elizabeth reluctantly returns to her mother's house. After unearthing a taped up jack-in-the-box in the cupboard, Drop Dead Fred escapes from his solitary confinement, and explodes into freedom ... only bedlam can follow.

    Drop Dead Fred is a movie that was made for fun, to be enjoyed, laughed at, and respected for reminding us that we need to lighten up occasionally and, while not necessarily flinging spaghetti in a nice restaurant, act like children every once in a while to prevent ourselves from being driven insane by the fast-paced society in which we live.

    Have fun peeps

    • JediSi
      • JediSi
      • Posted 31 Aug 2007 18:41

  • Most recent members' review of Drop Dead Fred

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Drop Dead BRILLIANT!!!!

    THIS FILM WAS PANNED BY THE CRITICS ON RELEASE. PERSONALLY I REALLY COULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS FILM HIGHLY ENOUGH, I HONESTLY THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST FEEL GOOD FILMS EVER MADE. RIK MAYALL IS BRILLIANT, IT'S MOVING ONE MINUTE AND ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS THE NEXT.THERE ISN'T ONE MINUTE OF THE FILM WHERE IT STARTS TO LAG, DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE THE CRITICS RENT THIS FILM IT'S FANTASTIC.

      • anthony mahon from OLDHAM
      • Posted 04 Oct 2005 21:51

  • News and features

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    Drop Dead Fred

    Brand set for Drop Dead Fred remake

    • 30 Apr 2009

    Russell Brand has signed up to star in a remake of cult comedy Drop Dead Fred - as an imaginary friend. Brand will star in a new adaptation of the 1991 film, which originally featured comedian Rik Mayall and actress Phoebe Cates. The film tells the tale of a woman who returns to her parents' home after she is fired from her job and dumped by her husband, only to be reacquainted with her anarchic childhood imaginary pal. And it's not the only remake the star has in the pipeline - he has also... Read more

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3,804 Member ratings
  • 100
625
  • 90
345
  • 80
615
  • 70
625
  • 60
598
  • 50
353
  • 40
254
  • 30
154
  • 20
157
  • 10
78

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      • A chaotic comic fantasy about Elizabeth, an ineffectual young woman (Phoebe Cates) who leaves her unfaithful husband and returns home only to be oppressed by her overbearing mother. She comes across ...