It's funny--I can totally agree with the criticisms levelled at this film. It is derivative and some of the supporting performances are way too hammy and one-dimensional, but I'm a sucker for movies and plays set in diners. I like the idea of strangers trapped together in a self-contained environment and having to work out their lives among people they would probably only meet on the road or in a roadside café or a bus depot. I found the situation interesting and, while the characters were put through some very stereotypical paces, I was interested in what happened next. Maybe it was because it was on television at a time when I needed a break from all the Olympics coverage; maybe it's because "The Petrified Forest" is one of my favorite vintage films, but I cut this film a lot of slack--more than I probably would have if I had had to pay to go see it--and I enjoyed it and would watch it again. Do I wish some of the acting had been better? Do I wish some of the direction had been tighter? Do I wish there had been a few more surprises in the plot? Sure. That said, every film doesn't have to be a big-budget blockbuster or an exercise in searing, probing character development. Sometimes it's just fun to chillax with what in the old days would have been a B movie second feature. I thought Grieco and Thompson brought a lot to roles that weren't written to be as deep or shaded as they could have been. I thought Dee Wallace Stone and the older gentleman playing a diner customer were wasted in basically bit parts. Wil Wheaton should probably never try to play a drunk scene and the actress playing the female on the run appeared not to have as much experience as might have been necessary to help her make more of an underwritten role, but all the actors were still interesting to watch. Be sure and stay tuned for the credits--they give more information about what happened to the characters.
8 Reviews
STUPID
aarongreenfoot28 August 2021
Looking for a fun little movie ?
Byrdz1 December 2015
Look no further ! This one is little and it is fun. The cast ... all of them ... do their jobs well. Some will look familiar to most viewers and some not so much. Nothing very much happens and a lot happens .. it's that kind of a film.
I noticed that other reviews have complained that the plot isn't! Well it IS ! There are twists and turns that cannot be expected along with some stuff that you just KNOW is coming BUT it is fun.
For a while it seemed to be on just about every week or so on one of the over-the-air channels with all of the medical and sue-'em ads and then it disappeared. Now it turns up occasionally and if you want to spend a couple of hours with a NICE bunch of people ... l@@k for it and give it a try ... you might just LIKE it, Mikey !
I noticed that other reviews have complained that the plot isn't! Well it IS ! There are twists and turns that cannot be expected along with some stuff that you just KNOW is coming BUT it is fun.
For a while it seemed to be on just about every week or so on one of the over-the-air channels with all of the medical and sue-'em ads and then it disappeared. Now it turns up occasionally and if you want to spend a couple of hours with a NICE bunch of people ... l@@k for it and give it a try ... you might just LIKE it, Mikey !
stupendously awful
firma_ment25 August 2021
Tries to be quirky and cute, but is just extremely annoying. Horrible acting. Terrible writing. Inept direction. Lea Thompson's performance is embarrassingly bad. Richard Grieco can't act at all. The jaunty piano score is irritating as hell. Looks like it had a budget of about $5. It would be more entertaining if one were to watch paint dry.
A Very Fun Performance from Lea Thompson
aimless-465 April 2006
"Fish Don't Blink" is the story of a brother and his younger sister (30 year-old Jimmy-Wil Wheaton and Clara-Lea Thompson) who run a diner in the desert named the Nautilus. The film is almost a remake of 1993's "Benny and Joon"; as Clara is a bit simple-minded/dysfunctional and Pete is agonizing over having her institutionalized. He is also restless to move somewhere more exciting and get on with his life.
The character with the most screen time is Charlie, a huge catfish they keep in a glass tank inside the diner. Clara has frequent conversations with Charlie and some sort of ESP that allows her to eavesdrop on other people thoughts and distant conversations.
The Johnny Depp "Benny and Joon" character is named Pete (Richard Grieco) and he ends up at the diner with Francis (Tonie Perensky) when their car breaks down. Francis is being chased by two gangsters, she witnessed a murder in Las Vegas and hopes to hide out in Mexico.
John Duncan plays Harry James, a small-time used car dealer and real estate agent. Duncan will remind you of Mr. Haney from "Green Acres".
"Fish Don't Blink" will appeal to fans of offbeat comedy as long as they are not looking for something original. The sequencing is a bit off which undermines any attempt to build up some suspense, although these failings will help you appreciate the impact of good editing the next time you see some.
The performances are a mixed bag, Grieco and Duncan are solid, Wheaton is a bit weak and Perensky is awful. While I have never been a Lea Thompson fan, Director Chuck DeBus gets a fantastic performance from her, probably her best ever. While inspired by Mary Stuart Masterson's Joon, Clara is more fun and Thompson brings some great comic moments to the film. Who would have imagined that she was capable of this level of performance,
The script is the product of multiple writers and is extremely uneven (big surprise). Perhaps there was only one talented writer, who wrote all the stuff for Duncan and Thompson then turned over the script to the marginal guys.
Thompson's performance can't entirely carry the film, but she and Duncan are entertaining enough to make it worth watching.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
The character with the most screen time is Charlie, a huge catfish they keep in a glass tank inside the diner. Clara has frequent conversations with Charlie and some sort of ESP that allows her to eavesdrop on other people thoughts and distant conversations.
The Johnny Depp "Benny and Joon" character is named Pete (Richard Grieco) and he ends up at the diner with Francis (Tonie Perensky) when their car breaks down. Francis is being chased by two gangsters, she witnessed a murder in Las Vegas and hopes to hide out in Mexico.
John Duncan plays Harry James, a small-time used car dealer and real estate agent. Duncan will remind you of Mr. Haney from "Green Acres".
"Fish Don't Blink" will appeal to fans of offbeat comedy as long as they are not looking for something original. The sequencing is a bit off which undermines any attempt to build up some suspense, although these failings will help you appreciate the impact of good editing the next time you see some.
The performances are a mixed bag, Grieco and Duncan are solid, Wheaton is a bit weak and Perensky is awful. While I have never been a Lea Thompson fan, Director Chuck DeBus gets a fantastic performance from her, probably her best ever. While inspired by Mary Stuart Masterson's Joon, Clara is more fun and Thompson brings some great comic moments to the film. Who would have imagined that she was capable of this level of performance,
The script is the product of multiple writers and is extremely uneven (big surprise). Perhaps there was only one talented writer, who wrote all the stuff for Duncan and Thompson then turned over the script to the marginal guys.
Thompson's performance can't entirely carry the film, but she and Duncan are entertaining enough to make it worth watching.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Engaging character development, dialog and plot
jimabe-128 July 2009
I was hooked after a few minutes of watching. I did not watch from the beginning but was channel surfing the TV. I tuned into the film and saw Clara talking to a fish and her brother trying to arrange for her institutionalization for being mentally impaired. Although this plot seems to want to play out predictably, it develops because Clara's brother Jimmy has issues of his own that seem to overshadow those of his sister. Those who drop into the diner that these siblings inhabit and service have issues of their own that require resolution but only seem to compound the complexity of plot surrounding the siblings. The audience and the characters cannot anticipate what will happen next. The character's personalities are predictable but they act unpredictably because they are forced into situations where they have to make desperate decisions. The plot, characters and dialog are believable and realistic which makes the film an enjoyable character study in human nature even though the plot may be totally fictional. Because of the continuity of the character development and realistic dialog and plot, I give the film an excellent rating and recommendation.
10 out of 10
OldeTurtle23 July 2012
This is one of those films that adds up to a whole lot more than the sum of its parts.
This movie was based on a stage play of the same name "Fish Don't Blink". It has a live theater feel and experience that is only made greater on film. That is not always true of adaptations.
It would be a challenge to pick a better film cast. This is some of the best work you will see from each of the cast members. Casting Will Wheaton as Jimmy was a brilliant choice. His delivery is always spot on.
If you like Lea Thompson before you see her as Clara, you are going to be building monuments to her after watching her perform. I'm ashamed to say that I did not recognize Richard Grieco, who plays Pete in the movie. I know him now, and already have his films on my must see list.
I could spend a lot of time mentioning every single cast member, and each one deserves individual praise. I'm not going to take that amount of time. You will just have to see this movie to see how good they all are.
If I was just a little more spontaneous I just might jump in the car and visit the place where this was filmed. I understand why films like this get a 'cult' following.
For me, it was a hit from first line to last. A sleeper, but a rare gem too.
You need a certain dry wit or droll way of looking at life, but if you have that, you will watch this movie more than once or twice. It is that good.
I researched every cast member, the location of the shoot, everything. I wanted more.
I have not had this much fun since the first time I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show.
It really is that good. Trust me. I have never lied to you before. :-)
This movie was based on a stage play of the same name "Fish Don't Blink". It has a live theater feel and experience that is only made greater on film. That is not always true of adaptations.
It would be a challenge to pick a better film cast. This is some of the best work you will see from each of the cast members. Casting Will Wheaton as Jimmy was a brilliant choice. His delivery is always spot on.
If you like Lea Thompson before you see her as Clara, you are going to be building monuments to her after watching her perform. I'm ashamed to say that I did not recognize Richard Grieco, who plays Pete in the movie. I know him now, and already have his films on my must see list.
I could spend a lot of time mentioning every single cast member, and each one deserves individual praise. I'm not going to take that amount of time. You will just have to see this movie to see how good they all are.
If I was just a little more spontaneous I just might jump in the car and visit the place where this was filmed. I understand why films like this get a 'cult' following.
For me, it was a hit from first line to last. A sleeper, but a rare gem too.
You need a certain dry wit or droll way of looking at life, but if you have that, you will watch this movie more than once or twice. It is that good.
I researched every cast member, the location of the shoot, everything. I wanted more.
I have not had this much fun since the first time I saw Rocky Horror Picture Show.
It really is that good. Trust me. I have never lied to you before. :-)
Charlie the Catfish was the star of this amazing film!
dainamariebradley14 August 2021
When a movie can make me laugh, cry, care about the characters so much and be sad when the movie ends, that movie gets all 10 stars and would get as many as I had to award it! I am a fish lover, so the title was intriguing, and then I saw Charlie in his tank and got hooked! Lea Thompson has always been talented, but this film was the ultimate showcase, she nailed Clara and made me love her! Not that the other cast members don't deserve accolades, all were absolutely stellar! The roadside diner, the Nautilus, looked so inviting, it's just the type of place I'd want to stop in to get a bite while passing through on a road trip. I'm not going to spoil this fun experience for anyone. This should be seen by all who are looking for a truly feel-good, pick-me-up film to lose themselves in for awhile. It's not easy sailing bthough, it's a choppy journey these people have to make in order to reach their next destination. And Charlie's always watching, and through Clara, his apparently mentally challenged best friend and the diner's only waitress, dispenses his sage advice. It's heart- warming and at times, heart-breaking to watch Clara interact with her brother, cook Jimmy, and rest of the people there. Jimmy and Clara's parents are deceased, so Jimmy and Clara inherited the Nautilus, and together they've kept it afloat. The script and dialog were terrific, and I laughed out loud in many places. It's just right, not dark or depressing nor is it so lighthearted that it's implausible. The cinematography is vivid and bright. Overall a quality production with good directing, no unnecessary dragging out of scenes. Again, the entire cast was believable and excellent. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining comedy with just enough drama and suspense to balance it out. I can't imagine that anyone would regret watching this rare gem!
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