My bad friend Fred
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | My bad friend Fred |
| Original title | Drop Dead Fred |
| Country of production | USA , UK |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1991 |
| length | 99 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 6 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ate de Jong |
| script |
Carlos Davis , Anthony Fingleton |
| production | Anthony Fingleton, Paul Webster |
| music | Randy Edelman |
| camera | Peter Deming |
| cut | Marshall Harvey |
| occupation | |
| |
My Bad Friend Fred ( Drop Dead Fred ) is an American - British comedy fantasy film from 1991 . Directed by Ate de Jong , the screenplay is by Carlos Davis and Anthony Fingleton . In Germany, the film opened in cinemas on June 4, 1992.
action
One day Elizabeth Cronin loses all of her independence within a few hours: she is abandoned by her husband Charles, her bag and car are stolen, her job is terminated, and her dominant mother Polly takes her in. In her old nursery she finds the caged box devil Fred, her childhood friend, and frees him. Fred doesn't leave her side after that.
Fred completely messes up Elizabeth's life. Since he still thinks she's a child, that's how he behaves, and that leads to really absurd situations. So he cuts her hair in her sleep, sinks her friend's houseboat and causes some other terror. The only bright spot for her is that she meets her old child friend Mickey Bunce, who can still remember Fred very vividly. Because even in her childhood, the redhead was just doing nonsense. Since only Elizabeth can see him, they soon think other people are crazy. That's why her mother is dragging her to a psychiatrist. In the psychiatrist's waiting room, the imaginary friends meet quite amusing. Elizabeth is then prescribed pills that shut down the diseased regions in the brain and thus kill the imaginary friend. It also changes externally; Charles is interested again and with joy she can be persuaded to take the pills, which is increasingly bothering Fred. Before she can take the last pill, however, Fred overhears a phone call that tells her that Charles is still cheating on her, and her world is being destroyed again. There is only one choice left: she has to find herself again, the source of her doubts and the reason why Fred simply does not want to or cannot leave her side. With his help, she embarks on a journey into her subconscious, where it shows that she is only suppressed by her husband and mother and still sees herself as a child. Only after she has freed herself from all burdens can Fred leave her and she can take her life into her own hands again.
Reviews
Stephen Holden wrote in the New York Times on May 24, 1991 that the film sometimes looks like it is directed at children - and sometimes like a film for adults. His "Freudistic humor" seems so strained that it is difficult to imagine who it is intended for. The subtle depiction of Phoebe Cates seems out of place compared to the other cartoonish depictions; Rik Mayall's "frenetic" game is particularly bad.
The lexicon of international films wrote that the film hides “behind the often rough jokes” a “caustic criticism of the“ American way of life ”, which is reinforced by the director’s European perspective”. He offers lovers of "macabre humor" "entertaining fun".
backgrounds
The film was in Minneapolis , in Saint Paul ( Minnesota ) and in Chanhassen turned (Minnesota). It grossed approximately $ 13.9 million in US cinemas .
Web links
- Drop Dead Fred in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Drop Dead Fred at Rotten Tomatoes (English)
- My bad friend Fred in the German dubbing file
- My bad friend Fred in the online movie database