Fierce Creatures

Never one to play by the rules, Monty Python alumnus John Cleese reunited the cast of A Fish Called Wanda for this farce about a multinational corporation's attempt to turn a public London zoo into a moneymaking concern. "It's not a sequel, it's an equal," explained producer-screenwriter-star Cleese, for the actors play completely different characters. Cleese stars as a military veteran turned ruthless corporate hatchet man sent by Australian media baron Kevin Kline to drum up business in the zoo. His plan: the "fierce creatures" policy, in which the zoo keeps only the most dangerous specimens (much to the frustration of the zookeepers). But Cleese soon finds himself up against an ambitious manager (Jamie Lee Curtis) and the owner's overanxious but dim son (Kevin Kline again), all working at cross-purposes and generally creating havoc. Perhaps it's not the equal to the hilarious Fish Called Wanda, but the stars overcome the convoluted plot with terrific comic performances and the film lands its share of comic zingers. Anyway, who wants their comedy safe? --Sean Axmaker