Drop Dead Fred
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Drop Dead Fred | |
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| Directed by | Ate de Jong |
| Produced by | Paul Webster |
| Written by | Elizabeth Livingston (story) Carlos Davis Anthony Fingleton (screenplay) |
| Starring | Phoebe Cates Rik Mayall |
| Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
| Release date(s) | 19 April 1991 |
| Running time | 103 min. |
| Country | USA/UK |
| IMDb profile | |
Drop Dead Fred is a 1991 comedy fantasy film released by New Line Cinema. Rik Mayall stars as Drop Dead Fred, the imaginary friend of Elizabeth, played as an adult by Phoebe Cates. The supporting cast includes Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, Carrie Fisher, and Ashley Peldon as young Elizabeth.
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[edit] Synopsis
Elizabeth Cronin returns to live at home with her mother after losing her money, car, job and husband in her lunch hours.
In her room, she finds a jack-in-the-box, which held her imaginary friend, Drop Dead Fred, captive since she was a child. Unlike Elizabeth who is wholesome, sweet, and innocent, Fred is a troublemaker that often causes problems for Elizabeth. Of course, since Drop Dead Fred is imaginary, Elizabeth is actually the one creating havoc for herself. We learn that Fred exists to serve as an outlet for Elizabeth whose mother was abusive and demanding.
Elizabeth is taken to a psychiatrist (Alycia Lutz), who prescribes drugs to get rid of Fred. Furthermore, she reconciles with her husband, only to find out he's still cheating on her. Right before she takes the last pill to get rid of Fred, in an imaginary sequence, Fred leads her to decide to stop allowing her mother and husband to control her life. She moves out with the jack-in-the-box and begins a new life. Fred tells her that she no longer needs him, and she reluctantly agrees, kissing him goodbye, and he disappears.
The final scene has her talking with a real childhood friend Mickey. His daughter runs nearby them, in trouble for making a mess, which she blames on Drop Dead Fred. Fred is not truly gone; he's moved on to another child. The daughter sets up a prank with Fred: hanging her nanny from a tree.
[edit] Locations
In addition to the studio scenes, on-scene filming took place at many locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. These include the Gaviidae Common on Nicollet Mall, Lowry Hill and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis; Harriet Island, Norwest Tower, and the Wells Fargo Tower in St. Paul; and Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
[edit] Goofs
- When Lizzie's mother slams Fred's head in the refrigerator, his hair is orange, like normal. But when he pulls his head out, all the time his face is smashed, he has brown hair. Then when he "re-inflates" his head again, his hair is orange again.
- When Lizzie thinks she sees Charles in their speedboat when she is in the Paddle Steamer, she's holding a mug, when we see her again the mug is gone.
- When Elizabeth and Fred are on the boat she asks Fred, "What is that water doing there?" He replies, "I don't know," but his mouth is saying something else.
- When Fred is sitting in the meeting where Janie works, you can see that the guy sitting next to him is covering his mouth to stiffle his laughing. There would be no other reason for this action.
