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"Drop Dead Fred" (2003)
It's hard to believe it's already been twenty years since Drop Dead Fred was my go-to favorite movie to watch. It really was because of the feeling it left you with: A sense of empowerment with a message of staying true to yourself. In a nutshell, the movie is about Lizzie Cronin (Phoebe Cates) who had a very overbearing mother (Marsha Mason) when she was growing up, and who sadly does grow up to become a very submissive wife to her cheating husband Charles (Tim "Animal House" Matheson). To cope with her troubles, Lizzie develops a relationship with the rambunctious Drop Dead Fred—an imaginary friend that is very real to her and to us as the audience.
(I'm about to reference a lot of Disney films here but bare with me.) Just like the tale of Pete's Dragon or Mary Poppins, Phoebe's character doesn't get to keep her imaginary friend. Instead this imaginary friend is only in her life for the time in which she learns that her power is coming from within herself and not from her magic feather of an imaginary friend (a little Dumbo reference there).
Above: As usual Carrie Fisher plays the perfect confidante to our main character!
Carrie Fisher was so fantastic as the confidante in When Harry Met Sally, and again, she is a hilarious and fun best friend to Lizzie in Drop Dead Fred. For that reason alone, I would recommend including this as a must-see film. The movie itself is something of a one-off primary vehicle for Brit comedian Rik Mayall, who sadly passed away in 2014. Really, the entire story is centered on his shenanigans and he appears delightfully in different elaborate costumes in just about every scene of the film.
Above: Just one of the many wonderful costumes worn by our hero!
There were points in Drop Dead Fred when I wished the writers had put less focus on the affair of Annabella (Bridget Fonda) and Charles. There was a lot of potential in the character of Mickey Bunce (Ron Eldard), who, it is revealed, was a very real childhood friend of Lizzie. At the end of the movie, it is sort of hinted that the two become a romantic item. I would have loved to have seen Mickey included in the childhood flashbacks and even expanded his storyline to be more in pursuit of Lizzie, and coming to her defense more with her abusive husband and mother. All I'm saying is this could have had the potential of being more of a romantic comedy...but then again, that would have totally grossed out Drop Dead Fred who is very vocally against the touchy feely girliness of romance. In fact, he would have faked puking at the very mention of it.
Above: Sadly the dreamy Mickey Bunce (Ron Eldard) didn't play a larger role.
Drop Dead Fred himself is an absolute laugh riot though, from intentionally smearing dog poo over mother's freshly, washed carpet to sinking an entire boat house; You honestly couldn't ask for more madcap (destructive) adventures from an imaginary friend.
This movie does get pretty deep, if you want to examine it that far. In a flashback scene, Lizzie's mom tapes up a jack in the box which supposedly traps Drop Dead Fred. Towards the end of the film, Lizzie takes some psych medication that puts her into a dream state where she ends up confronting her childlike self, bound in tape. From here, she literally frees her inner child and confronts her mother. We can assume from this point on, Lizzie will be an independent woman and Drop Dead Fred agrees she no longer needs him because she has found her happy place.
Above: The flashback moments were truly hilarious and adorable!
Without giving too many spoilers, the end of the movie comes full circle and is very sweet—almost bittersweet. You are left feeling that Lizzie is going to end up being the cool stepmom. Overall, this movie still makes me laugh and cry and that, in itself, deserves an honorary home in my movie collection. We can thank the Universe that the remake rumor of 2009 died. If you didn't hear, the buzz was that Russell Brand was going to play Drop Dead Fred, back when he was just about to destroy the remake of the classic, romantic comedy Arthur which I personally will never forgive him for. And wait, that's not the worst of it! The script was allegedly going to be spearheaded by the screenwriter who tried to destroy the Land of the Lost franchise with his Will Ferrell vehicle. All this commotion for a film that many call a flop!
In my book, Drop Dead Fred is a cult classic—a true gem and even a thought-provoking look at the inner child. Rest in peace, Rik, you will always have a place in my heart!
- Truly a classic comedy film.
- If remade, it won't bring in the same value and experience.
- Carrie Fisher (rest in peace).
- None.
PROFILE |
|
|---|---|
| Title | Drop Dead Fred |
| Description | Every kid has an imaginary friend. Only Elizabeth (Phoebe Cates) isn't a kid and Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall) is anything but imaginary! With a haircut this bad, he has to be real — and his mischief has Elizabeth in big trouble! When she splits with her husband (Tim Matheson), Elizabeth turns to her best friend (Carrie Fisher). But it's her mom (Marsha Mason) who sends her back home where she discovers her childhood friend, Fred. Having been locked in a box for twenty-one years, Fred is bursting with enough energy to turn Elizabeth's life into a rowdy, rollicking, racy adventure! |
| DVD Amaray Credits | POLYGRAM and WORKING TITLE FILMS present PHOEBE CATES RIK MAYALL MARSHA MASON DROP DEAD FRED with TIM MATHESON and CARRIE FISHER music by RANDY EDELMAN costume designer CAROL WOOD production designer JOSEPH T. GARRITY film editor MARSHALL HARVEY director of photography PETER DEMING executive producers TIM BEVAN and CARLOS DAVIS & ANTHONY FINGLETON written by CARLOS DAVIS & ANTHONY FINGLETON produced by PAUL WEBSTER directed by ATE DE JONG |
| ISBN / Bar Code number | 0 12236 11926 5 |
| Video Format | 1.33:1 (4:3) / Full screen |
| Audio Format | Stereo / 2.0 Dolby Stereo Surround |
| Disc Count | One (1) |
| Language(s) | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Subtitles | None |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Region | Region 1 - NTSC |
| Specification | Color |
| Features | [MAIN MENU]: (1. Play Movie, 2. Chapter Index). [CHAPTER INDEX]: {1-5} (1. Opening Credits, 2. Moving On, 3. Losing It All, 4. Mama To The Rescue, 5. Time To Play), {6-10} (6. Good Morning!, 7. A Friend In Need, 8. All Grown Up, 9. Imagination Running Wild, 10. Playing Pirates), {11-15} (11. Bad News, 12. Dating Games, 13. Extreme Measures, 14. What's Up, Doc?, 15. Crazy For You), {16-20} (16. Trying To Run, 17. Getaway, 18. Snotface Looking Great, 19. In For The Night, 20. Intruder Alert!), {21-25} (21. Let's Talk, 22. Together Again?, 23. Time To Go Inside, 24. No More Fears, 25. End Credits). |
| Production | PolyGram / Working Title Films |
| Company | New Line Cinema / Artisan Home Entertainment |
| Item / Product Number | #11926 |
| Closed Captioning | Yes |
| DVD Release | July 22, 2003 |
| Run Time | 103 minutes (Menu - 1:08, Feature film - 1:38:47. Total DVD time 1:39:56) |
| Copyright | Program Content and Package Artwork: © MCMXCI Polygram Filmproduktion GmbH. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary: © 2003 Artisan Video Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Artisan Entertainment Inc. 2700 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90404. Printed in U.S.A. |
| Other Formats | VHS, Blu-ray, Amazon Prime Video |
| Quoted Reviews | -- |
| Other | -- |
and
WORKING TITLE FILMS
Present
Phoebe Cates
Rick Mayall
Marsha Mason
in
Drop Dead Fred
Ron Eldard
Ashley Peldon
Daniel Gerroll
with
Tim Matheson
and
Carrie Fisher
Casting Bye[sic]
Lynn Kressel
Visual Efects[sic] Produced by
VCE/Pete Kuran
Costume Designer
Carol Wood
Film Editor
Marshall Harvey
Music by
Randall Edelman
Produkshun[sic] Designer
Joseph T. Garrity
Director of Fotography[sic]
Peter DeMing
Executive Producers
Tim Bevan
and
Carlos Davis Anthony Fingleton
Suggested Bye[sic]
a Story Bye[sic]
Elizabeth Livingston
Written Bye[sic]
Carlos Davis
&
Anthony Fingleton
Produced by
Paul Webster
Directed by
Ate De Jong
Elizabeth PHOEBE CATES
Drop Dead Fred RIK MAYALL
Polly MARSHA MASON
Charles TIM MATHESON
Janie CARRIE FISHER
Murray KEITH CHARLES
Young Elizabeth ASHLEY PELDON
Nigel DANIEL GERROLL
Mickey Bunce RON ELDARD
Attractive Customer ELEANOR MONDALE
Judge Dubben BOB REID
Arsonist PETER THOEMKE
Grandma Bunce SJOUKJE DE JONG DOUMA
Man in Speedboat PAUL HOLMES
Waiter #1 STEVE COCHRAN
Waiter #2 ROBERT MEYZEN
Doctor Ryland DANIEL BUCHEN
Concerned Mom MARIE MATHAY
Go to Hell Herman PETER BRIETMAYER
Velcro Head CLARK NIEDERJOHN
Graggy TOM BETHKE
Namby Pamby ELIZABETH GRAY
Nurse CHERYL HAWKER
Waiter at Wine Gala MICHAEL WELKER
Natalie KELLY BENSON
Ms. Fuzzock CATHY LIND HAYES
© MCMXCI PolyGram Filmproduktion GmbH
All Rights Reserved
Unit Production Manager
MARY McLAGLEN
1st Assistant Director
MICHAEL WAXMAN
2nd Assistant Director
DAN STILLMAN
Special Makeup Effects by
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
Production Assistant NICOLE FURIA
1st Assistant Cameraman SCOTT BROWNER
2nd Assistant Camera KIMMAN HARMON
Script Supervisor BENITA BRAZIER
Sound Mixer BOB ANDERSON, JR., C.A.S.
Boom Operator PUD CUSACK
Art Director RANDALL SCHMOOK
Set Decorator COLIN TUGWELL
On-Set Dresser NIEL WILLIAMS
Property Master DEBORAH SCHILDT
Assistant Art Director SYDNEY SHARPE
Assistant Props ELLIOT BERLOVITZ
Additional Prop Master MARTY CUSACK
Key Makeup Artist LIZBETH J. WILLIAMSON
Hair Supervisor TAMARA GUTHRIE
Key Hair HEATHER MATISOFF
Hair Assistants SHERRY HARTUNG
DANIEL CURE
A.J. NIELSEN
Wig Stylist STEVE McGLOCKLIN
Ms. Mason's Makeup RICHARD BLAIR
Assistant Costume Designer LUCY CORRIGAN
Wardrobe Supervisor DARYL KERRIGAN
Wardrobe Assistants CHERYL BROUSSARD
PAMELA POST
ANN MILLER
Location Manager TIM HILLMAN
Assistant Location Manager BOB GRAF
Location Scouts NORTHCOAST PICTURES
Production Coordinator JULIE HARTLEY
Assistant Production Coordinator ERIC MUELLER
Assistant to the Producer/Post-Production Coordinator CLARISSA TROOP
Assistant Accountant MARGARET LANCASTER
Minneapolis Casting LYNN BLUMENTHAL CASTING
Extras Casting RICHTER CASTING
Unit Still Photographer DEMMIE TODD
Unit Publicity JULIE POLKES
COTTRELL & LINDEMAN
ASSOCIATES
Additional Photography by SANDI SISSEL
FRANCIS KENNY
Gaffer MICHAEL LAVIOLETTE
Key Grip ROBAIRE FELDMANN
Best Boy Electric NICK CLINE
Best Boy Grip ROBERT ADAMS
Electricians THOMAS FRANCHETT
CHRIS "FLOATER" MALONE
DAVID DOYLE
Dolly Grip CLARENCE BROWN
Grips JOHNNY HALE
CRAIG FOSTER
SCOTT KOSTER
Acrobat Double JOHN BARRETT
Stunt Coordinator KY MICHAELSON
Special Effects Coordinator BOB COOPER
Assistant Special Effects PAUL MURPHY
PHIL BILLEY
1st Assistant Editor JIM SCHULTE
2nd Assistant Editors BRENT KAVIAR
JAMES GROETSCH
Supervising Sound Editor MICHAEL REDBOURN
Sound Effects VICTOR IORILLO
Dialogue Editors JOE HOLSEN
ED LACHMAN
SAM CRUTCHER
Foley Editor TOVA SZABO
Assistants BILL WARD
TERRY HONORE
Sound Transfer JOHN SOUKUP
Re-Recording by RYDER SOUND SERVICES, INC.
Re-Recording Mixers ROBERT W. GLASS, JR.
RICHARD D. ROGERS
GROVER B. HELSLEY
Music Editor KATHY DURNING
Scoring Mixer ELTON AHI
Scoring Crew GUSTAVO BORNER
FRANCOIS BLAIGAN
BOON HENG TAN
Music Recorded at RUSK SOUND STUDIOS
VCE Visual Effects Supervisor KEVIN KUTCHAVER
Special Photographic Effects PAUL GENTRY
Animation Camera PAM VICK
Visual Effects Editorial JO MARTIN
TRACY SINGLETON
Optical Effects BRIAN GRIFFIN
DAVE EMERSON
TODD HALL
BILL CONNER
PETE MARTIN
GARY GEORGE
VCE Coordinator JACQUELINE ZIETLOW
Stop Motion Animation DOUG BESWICK PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Sculptor MITCH DeVANE
Mechanical Technician YANCY CALZADA
Puppet Painter MARGARET PRENTICK
Puppet Costume TERESA BURKETT
Stop Motion Animator DOUG BESWICK
Model Builder JIM BELOHOVEK
Storyboard Artist PETE VON SHOLLY
2nd 2nd Assistant Director JULIE HERRIN
Production Assistants ROBIN KELLER
EMILY STEVENS
CHRYSA FREEMAN
SAMANTHA FINGLETON
PRISCILLA FINGLETON
2nd Unit Cameraman GREGORY GARDINER
Titles Designed by JOE RANFT
Title Animation STEVEN SEGAL
Construction Coordinator BOB HEDSTROM
Art Department Coordinator BARBARA GORRIE
Leadman MICHAEL HANDLEY
Swing Gang JONATHAN MARTIN
NORINE FRANCIS
STEVEN LINSNER
Assistant to Set Director MARGOT CZULEWICZ
Set Dresser CHER LAFRENIERE
Lead Scenic ANNE HYVARINEN
Scenic Painters NANCE CORKRUM-DERBY
DIANE DELESHA
WENDY SNAUFFER
KATHY STEWART
Lead Carpenter WAYNE WENDLAND
Carpenters STEVE SUTHERLAND
DALE KIRCHBERG
MICHAEL KESTNER
MICHAEL WALLIEN
KEITH ROBINSON
Art Rigger STUART SKRIEN
Transportation Coordinator BOBBY CAWLEY
Transportation Captain SCOTT HENDRICKS
Catering by COAST TO COAST CATERERS
Chef LARRY WALACK
Assistant Chef JOSE MOJICA
Catering Coordinator ANITA GIORDANO
Craft Services VICKI VAN FLEET
Greenskeeper KATHIE FOSLIEN
Production Van Driver MARK MASONER
Honeywagon Driver VINCE PECORA
Drivers ROBERT L. HECK
CHARLES JOHNSON
MICHAEL KENNEDY
FRANCIS GRITZ
ROGER KNUTSON
JIM HAUGH
TODD S. EICHENS
KEVIN KENNEDY
Los Angeles Editing Facilities RYDER SOUND
Minneapolis Editing Facilities SILK PURSE
Projectionist PETE SNELL
ADR Artists VOICES OFF
REVA ROSE
Graphical Illustrator TIM BLOUGH
Fine Arts Consultant DAVID SODERGREN
Color Timer DAN MUSCARELLA
Insurance Services KEVIN O'SHEA
Legal Services (U.K.) BILLY HINSHELWOOD
Legal Services (U.S.A.) SINCLAIR TENENBAUM & CO., INC.
Sales by MANIFESTO FILM SALES
Insurance by BAYLEY, MARTIN & FAY
Banked by PIERSON, HELDRING & PIERSON N.V.
Completion Bond Supplied by THE COMPLETION BOND CO.
Camera Systems by CLAIRMONT
Lighting Equipment Provided by
HOLLYWOOD RENTAL COMPANY, INC.
Color by CFI
Originated on
Eastman
Colour Film from Kodak
Special Thanks to:
LAURA ASHLEY and GAIL SWANSON • EVE BENISH
RICHARD GLADSTEIN • EVY KOMAREK • SALVATION ARMY
MICHAEL KUHN • MARQUETTE HOTEL, MINNEAPOLIS
THE MINNEAPOLIS FILM BOARD
RANDY ADAMSICK and KELLY PRATT
LOU NANNI • SANDY PUTTNAM AT NABISCO FOODS
SARA RISHER • STEVEN'S FABRICS
SUMMIT BREWING COMPANY • SETH WILLENSON
SARAH RADCLYFFE
"VELCRO"
a registered trademark of Velcro USA, Inc. for their brand of hook and loop fasteners,
is being used with the permission of Velcro USA, Inc.
Quintet for Piano, Violin, Violin Cello, Viola and Bass in A Major,
Op. 114, D667, The "Trout" Quintet by FRANZ SCHUBERT.
Performed by THE MELCHOIR QUINTET, Hamburg
DOLBY STEREO®
IN SELECTED THEATERS
No. 31027
MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATTION OF AMERICA
This motion picture is protected under the laws of the United States and
other countries and its unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition
may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.
The story and all names, characters and incidents portrayed in this production
are fictitious. No identification with actual persons is intended
or should be inferred.
Filmed on location in and around the
Twin Cities, Minnesota by Drop Dead Fred, Inc.
© MCMXCI PolyGram Filmproduktion GmbH
All Rights Reserved
NEW LINE CINEMA
A Time Warner Company
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