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Drop Dead Fred (1991) More at IMDbPro »

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136 comments in total

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86 out of 102 people found the following comment useful :-
Don't let her turn you into one of them!, 21 January 2003

Author: Michael DeZubiria (miked32@hotmail.com) from Luoyang, China

Drop Dead Fred is a difficult film to review. I saw it for the first time when I was 13 years old or something, and I absolutely loved it because I was right in the middle of the age group at which the film is directed. I watched it again recently, and while the film's slapstick comedy did not hold quite the same massive appeal (although I was still hugely entertained) as it did when I was younger, I regretted to discover that I had grown out of a lot of the goofy antics that went on in the movie.

However, I was reading through some of the reviews written on the IMDb by other users, and was amazed at how offended a couple of people were by this film, revealing in their reviews a total detachment from their own inner selves and a complete misunderstanding for the little people that we call kids. No, for example, I would NOT recommend a seven year old girl to psychiatric help for making a mess. This is arguably one of the most ludicrous ideas that I have ever read on the Internet Movie Database in my entire life, and believe me, I have read some jaw-droppingly moronic comments on this beloved site.

If you read through the user comments for this movie, you can so clearly see the difference in the people who liked it and the ones who hate it that it almost makes you laugh out loud that these people can't see that they are exactly the kinds of people that the movie rebels against. Drop Dead Fred begs Elizabeth not to let her mother turn her into one of them because he doesn't want her to turn into the kind of person who is so uptight and frigid and barren that she would be incapable of enjoying exactly the kind of entertainment and fun that Drop Dead Fred is.

This is a movie that was made for people who are still in touch with their inner child, people who realize that a little girl with a mother who has absolutely no understanding of the mind of a child has every right to escape into the world of an imaginary friend if it will help her escape the grayness and responsibility imposed on her by her mother, who demands absolute perfection and hasn't the first clue about how to raise a child. Very similar things can be said about various IMDb users, such as ones who refer to Fred as a product of a deranged mind or say anything about psychos or brutality or insanity.

Drop Dead Fred is not a film about an insane little girl. Indeed, I like to think that the world is populated mostly with people who understand that the minds of young children operate slightly differently than their parents'and our own, and that they can be forgiven for getting into a little mischief. I am generally against grouping together people who did not like a certain film, but in this case it seems overly obvious that the people who wrote negative reviews of this fun comedy are simply the people who resent being pointed out as the kinds of people that they are.

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 that we live in. And if you can't do that, if you hated Drop Dead Fred because you simply can't understand that concept, if, indeed, you think that Elizabeth is in dire need of psychiatric care, you may want to step back and look closely at your life and your views.

YOU may be the one in need of therapy.

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45 out of 53 people found the following comment useful :-
Fred is REAL!, 30 August 2002
Author: Theoriginaltruebrit from North Carolina originally England

I am amazed by the amount of people who have discussed this movie in the terms of being about "mental illness".... it should become clear by the end of the movie that this is a fantasy, Fred is not an imaginary friend he is "real" he exists and his sole purpose in life is to help children in a dark place and bring them out of themselves. Imaginary friends do not move on to another child, imaginary friends are the property of those who imagine them. I wouldn't be at all surprised if I saw a review of "Gremlins" on here by the same people who said "nasty little creatures who create distruction around them are not funny". This is a funny movie, plain and simple. Rick Mayall is outstanding as Fred and Phoebe Cates gives the perfect performance as the downtrodden daughter and wife. Anyone who says bad things about this movie has obviously never seen a fantasy movie before and taken it for what it is. I am surprised that they didn't call Demi Moore delusional in "Ghost" because she was refusing to let go of her boyfriend and "imagined" all the stuff that went on. This is a fantasy folks, a pure unadulterated fantasy and it is a bloody funny one at that. Watch it, it will make you laugh, it will make you smile, and it will make you chuckle.... what more can you ask and again Rick Mayall is brilliant.

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32 out of 40 people found the following comment useful :-
If they make them sexier than Phoebe Cates I want their addresses!, 22 May 2002
Author: Noel Bailey (uds3@hotmail.com) from Longmont: Colorado US

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!

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20 out of 25 people found the following comment useful :-
Great for kids and adults that like fantasy., 19 November 2004

Author: Denise McKinney (snarfyl@aol.com) from West Bloomfield, Michigan, USA

This is a movie that I loved as a kid. I never understood any of the adult parts of the movie of course at a young age. But the movie itself never left my memories and has stayed with me as I've grown up. Now I am going on 26 years old and watching it again. I haven't seen it since I was in elementary school. It brings back so many good memories and was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Now that I'm an adult I understand all the adult parts of the movie which now has a slightly different meaning. But it's still a good movie for kids and for any adult that likes fantasy. Especially adults like me that wish they could go back to being a kid.

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17 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Fun Film For The Family!, 5 January 2004

Author: ScotsFerret from Scotland

This is a great film if you want a laugh. I first seen it when it was first released and enjoyed it then, have recently watched it with my children and they loved it (think the certificate is a bit high, my children are under 15). If you get the chance to watch this film take it, and I dare you not to laugh.

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16 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Absolutely hilarious film about IMAGINARY FRIENDS that are MADE UP., 28 January 2004

Author: badaspunkbtch from East Tennessee

This film in no way is offensive to anyone including my friend with any mental illness. It was super-funny and shows how a young girl got revenge in funny ways on her cold, unloving, cruel mother who totally messed up her life. People who had a cruel childhood can relate to this movie and find a lighter side to their dark past. It was written about an imaginary friend who causes trouble and in no way whatsoever refers to mental illness. I give this movie 10 stars for the comedic story line.

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16 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
A quirky, off-beat, fun movie!, 4 January 1999
Author: DeeDee-10 from San Francisco

I would call this a dark comedy since it had a lot of the elements of the genre: sad moments with odd humor attached to it, and the strange, fantasy character of Fred. At first I thought "this is a very weird film!", and it is, but it grows on you and pretty soon you are having fun watching Fred's antics. I think this film definitely has the potential of having a large audience, so get out the word!

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11 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Everything you could want from a film- fun, funny, moving and Rik Mayall, 19 November 2005

Author: jennie-58 from United Kingdom

I thought Drop Dead Fred was a wonderfully magic film as it has a brilliant sense of humour, a beautiful friendship, love , a moving end and -of course- Rik Mayall's brilliant British humour. I first saw Drop Dead Fred when I was 15 and didn't really fancy it at first but there was nothing else on T.V, however, what I thought was going to be a purely childish movie turned out to be a wonderful light- hearted film for everyone and enjoyed every minute of it, and i'm not afraid to say I did have a few tears in my eyes at the end but it was beautifully acted and a perfect end to a perfect film. I only wish i had an imaginary friend like Fred when I was small. Both thumbs up for Rik Mayall's excellent portrait as Fred, I can't think of anyone more suitable for the role than him.

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15 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Drop Dead Laughing!, 29 July 2005

Author: Duzniak38 from Essex

Drop Dead Fred is a side-splittingly hilarious film, with Rik Mayall as the fantastic lead role - Drop Dead Fred. After breaking up with her boyfriend and losing her job, Elizabeth returns to her mother's house. After discovering a taped up jack-in-the-box in the cupboard, Drop Dead Fred escapes from his prison, and bursts out into freedom ... only chaos can ensue now! Phoebe Cates, who plays Elizabeth, now has a whole new load of trouble on her hands. Fred is her childhood imaginary friend - and only she can see him! There are so many funny parts in this film, it's impossible to name them all, but Rik Mayall never fails to bring up the laughs in any scene, as he gives a highly energetic, enthusiastic performance. The ending is really touching and I can never forget how when I was younger I always got upset by it. It beautifully concludes the movie, and will make you feel warm inside. Watch it and try not to laugh. It's near impossible.

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9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Too much fun!!!, 30 June 2002

Author: meerelda21 from Texas

All of this movie is a good excuse for a giggle...but watch for the restaurant segment. I couldn't stop laughing the first time I saw the "invisible" Fred controlling Lizzie's movements. This is one of those "feel good" movies. Never gets old.

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