User reviews

Kettle of Fish is for those who like their romantic comedies to seem sophisticated while sipping a glass of wine, but secretly want to be eating pizza, and unwinding after a long week. Nothing too demanding, just flows according to the the rules of the genre: jazz musician, non-committal bachelor type, leases his flat to English research repressed but stunning woman, sparks fly, musician tries other relationships but gradually realizes what's going on.... (It that counts as a spoiler you're probably watching the wrong kind of film...)

Matthew Modine is good as the bachelor fast approaching his sell-by date - he exudes a kind of laid-back charm that works well. Gina Gershon is too British in places - honestly, her accent makes "A Brief Encounter" sound like low down cockney by comparison, if you can forgive it and just treat it as OTT primness then a good time is to be had by all. The fish has real potential, and will no doubt get work. As will the frog. Iguana not so sure about.

While utterly predictable in its ending as befits its romantic nature, it is surprisingly good in its conversations and silly enough in the chase to have a kookie charm of it's own.

Smooth sounds, and fun. My wife and I found this very good in places (Esppecially the conversations the male characters had with each other), but felt the distractions in the plot were trying too hard to be funny peculiar, rather than funny ha-ha. Overall, though, very pleasant and a good warm romantic movie.

We liked it - but we would want the laughs to be tones down and the conversations to be tighter to really love it - worth a rental...

the movie is fine for what it is......everybody has different tastes... the old saying is one man's bread is another man's poison...i like gershon very much.. and modine is fine as well.... i am a big movie buff and i have been for almost 50 years...every movie cannot be a gone with the wind or Casablanca.... and there are poor movies out there for sure.. but this movie entertained me because i was not looking for anything like a classic... now.. i admit i saw this film by accident on cable.. so i did not pay for it but still i think the movie has some redeeming qualities and there are some people that would really enjoy it....the movie is set as a light romantic comedy and it does fit that.. One additional comment i must make after reading all the negative comments as well as the positive ones is i have my opinion on the film and so does everyone else... no one's opinion is any more valid than someone else... my best friend loves sushi... i can't stand it.. does that mean there is something wrong with my taste buds... no it does not... so there are people who like this film and there are some who do not.. i will hold to my opinion but if you do not like it hey different stokes for different folks, watch it and form your own opinion..........

I'm a fan of Matthew Modine, but this film--which I stumbled upon on cable--is absolutely witless. I see that the screenwriter and director were one and the same, so there was no one around to check her worst instincts. There are no surprises, no original lines, and no original characters. The goldfish was basically the most sympathetic character. What a waste of all this acting talent. Given how expensive it is to film in New York these days, I have to wonder how this got made in the first place. And if you're wondering why I watched it at all, it came on after a film that I like on cable and I left it on while I worked at the computer. It's not a very demanding picture!

I just saw this film last night in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and it seriously makes me wonder if the folks at the festival actually screen the films before selecting them. The film was simply awful - I say that without hyperbole or ulterior motives - it was awful. Matthew Modine's days as a leading man are way over. Gina Gershon sported an inexplicable and unnecessary English accent - she should be ashamed of her participation in this film. Gloria Reuben had a weird little cameo in it - she should also be ashamed. The script was terrible and the we were given absolutely no reason to care about the characters. I highly doubt this will be picked up, but then again, people in Hollywood are known to make mistakes sometimes. I really think "Kettle of Fish" is a serious contender for the worst movie I've ever seen.

A lifelong bachelor confronts his intimacy issues when he sublets his apartment to a fetching biologist. His heartsick fish and his wise best buddy are on hand to provide perspective. The metaphors in this movie are abundant, and so are the good moments. Are there annoying things in this movie? Yes, like the overdone characters and such. But the movie has enough to keep you entertained. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were really needed. This is the kind of film that tries to prove that a small story can be much more meaningful than a larger one. Overall rating: 7/10.

This is one of those movies that appears on cable at like two in the afternoon to entertain bored housewives while they iron. The acting is second rate. Poor Mathew Modine seems to sleepwalk through the whole film. And god help Gina Gershon. Her accent is too over the top. It sounds nothing like an true English woman. It sounds forced and phony, much like her acting. She should stick to what she does best, lesbian showgirl con-artist who plays in a rock & roll band and has a drug problem. The other characters are no better. They are two dimensional. empty, vapid and silly. How are we to supposed to care about these people. At one point Christy Scott Cashman get's lost in Central Park. Really? It's not that hard to navigate Central Park. Just follow any path out. Not only did I not care about ANY of the characters,I downright hated them. The only reason I even stayed with this train-wreck of a film was Fisher Stevens. Even his brilliant humor couldn't save this dying Fish. Each scene is typical romantic comedy fare and nothing is left to surprise us. The script was awful as was the acting. If you catch this Fish throw it back!

Mel (Matthew Modine) is an aging jazz musician in New York City. He is a "player" in the world of romance, too, zigzagging from one pretty female to another, but always coming home alone to his goldfish, Daphne. Yet, he is very aware that he is "not getting any younger" and that it is time for him to commit to someone. As such, Mel decides to move in with a pretty thing and sublet his apartment. His new renter is Ginger (Gina Gershon), a bespectacled British biologist, who has arrived in the Big Apple to study amphibians. But, unhappily for Mel, his relationship skills are so bad that his girlfriend soon kicks him out and he needs his old apartment back NOW. Ginger soon points out that a contract is present and that she needs time to find another set of digs. So, they decide to share the place, with Ginger getting the bedroom and Mel residing in the living room. There is a definite atmosphere of dislike brewing between the two of them. Then, too, Mel has a crush on a newlywed woman, Diana (Christy Scott Cashman) who he met on the ferry to one of his gigs. He even takes a job as an elevator man in her building so that he can get closer to her. But, as she is married to a very rich gentleman (Fisher Stevens) it appears unlikely that she will return Mel's affections. Where will the course of true love run? This is truly a nice little film for those fans of romantic comedy. First, the cast is quite nice, with Modine giving a wonderfully nuanced performance as the misguided musician in search of life's purpose. Stevens, too, is very funny as the self-absorbed husband while Cashman scores big points as the beautiful but empty-headed bride. As for Gershon, she shines brightly, in a role that runs counter-clockwise to many of the racier parts in her previous films. With a nice British accent and her beauty semi-hidden under her glasses, she easily gives one of her best performances ever. All of the niceties of film-making, such as good costuming, attractive settings and fine camera work, are present. Congratulations, also, to the imaginative script and the confident direction of one Claudia Myers. In brief, if you are fishing for a new flick in the world of romcom entertainment, you would be well advised to "catch" this one. Grab it at the nearest video outlet, pop some kettle corn in the micro, and kick off your shoes for a nice little watch.

Let's face it, romantic comedies are considered lightweight when compared with dramatic movies (just look at the Academy Award nominations each year). But still, the good ones are truly an art form. Look at "When Harry Met Sally", "Sleepless In Seattle", and classics like "Roman Holiday" and "It Happened One Night". I like the good feeling of seeing two people destined to find happiness.

This movie attempts to construct something that resembles a romantic comedy. But no one believes the romance between the main characters, and there is nothing funny to make up for that major shortcoming. Modine is way past being a leading man - especially a romantic lead. I'm sure as Executive Producer, he had the means - but not the good sense - to cast himself. And Gershon...I see possibilities of some comedic talent, but she had no script and a poorly developed character. And whose idea was the English accent? Pointless.

Others have stated it, but I want to repeat: this story is poorly conceived, poorly executed; the actors are terribly miscast; and the characters, well, we just don't give a hoot about them.

An art form this ain't. Go rent "Moonstruck" again.

I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer above who said this film was awful. I recently saw it at the Reel Blues Festival in Chatam, MA and I have to say... having no idea at all what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I really did enjoy it. Matthew Modine was excellent and Gina Gershon was very funny. Also, there is a hilarious "strip dance" scene with adorable Christy Cashman that I found to be one of the funniest and most memorable parts of the film. The thing I liked most about the movie was the way it established a certain "mood." It was very well done. There is an almost dark, melancholy mood to the entire film, accented by the use of New York jazz throughout. It is very different than one might expect to see in a "romantic comedy" and that's the reason this film stands out. I think the film makers have tremendous potential and I look forward to more from them in the future. Good work!

This movie was supposed to have depicted a 'ladie's man' bachelor who was ready and willing to settle down once and for all. However, I did not care for his mission to settle down, because I didn't care for his character. I don't understand what all of these beautiful women saw in him. He had absolutely no class, or charisma. He should've at least had a way about himself that made ladies weak in the knees other than his saxophone playing, but to no avail. Just because he is a musician does not make him sexy. Not to mention, the things he did to get the attention of a married woman he fell in love in a span of five minutes of knowing her were absolutely outrageous and ridiculous. Does this man have any shame what-so-ever? Had he tidied up, and stopped doing and saying stupid things he would have been more attractive as a character, but alas, his character was bland and boring.

Gina Gershon's character was unnecessarily British. She could've just as easily been an uptight out-of-towner with her regular speaking voice than do a poor British accent that sometimes would fade through out the movie.

The only two characters I cared for were the fish and frog. Now those two had chemistry! Academy nominations for both… STAT! Plot holes, lack of character development, horrible acting, unnecessary drama, cliché moments... What a mess of a movie.

Worst movie ever made!!! Please see the Real movie reviews from the pros on this movie.Check Rotten Tomatoes on the web for some good independent reviews on this film. The comments made on this site are apparently from folks with some financial interest in this film. I find the positive comments very misleading. I find it amazing how the negative comments are so bad against this movie and the positive comments sound like an Academy Awards Speech. Don't waste your hard earned money!!!!!! This Film is retarded!! I can't believe a film like this would ever be made. Why would Hollywood waste their time on such junk? This film is an attempt at nothing. I ask myself what looser would actually sink their money producing such trash. I went to blockbuster and the attendant even told us not to waste our time or money. I didn't listen and I did waste my time and cash. Please don't make the same mistake! It really is the "Worst movie ever made!"

Don't waste your time with this one. Modine is not leading man material, his character isn't even likable. He's flat and boring, as is the leading female, Goshon. In fact, a massively underdeveloped storyline makes the entire movie a complete bore. I gave it my best shot by making it to the end, but it really never took off or landed well. If you like what is considered a rom-com (this movie is neither romantic nor funny), go elsewhere.

I really liked the movie! Though its my wife who dragged me to see it -well, it's a romantic comedy- , I had a great time. The movie is clearly an excellent romantic comedy but I felt it was also much more and spoke a lot to guys issues, such as moving together, who's the right girl and how to make a move towards her. Its very funny and packed with some great lines. I loved the jazzy music, which works with the rhythm of the movie quite well. Gina Gershon is very sexy, but in a new way that suits her well. I had never seen C. Cashman on screen but her dance number is something I'll remember. I also liked to see the guy from American pie and an ex bond girl... Go see it.

...with a wonderful, mellow, moody, sophisticated atmosphere and a fine sense of timing, comedy, jazz, and film history. Modine and Gershon - not a combo I'd ever have expected to see together - have a great thing going, and Myers lets them have groove together. C Cashman's stripper scene is one of the funniest I have seen in a movie this year.

Like some of the previous posters, I really disagree with the single negative - but vague - comment at the top of this site. Modine and Gershon were brave to take on roles in a small film with an inexperienced director like Myers, but the results are admirable - a meditation and adventure on frogs, jazz, science, nerds, and love. How could anyone resist?

I would recommend this intelligent, hilarious movie to anyone who likes good, clean film fun - hopefully it will transcend its Manhattan-cool vibe and find broad success.

Kettle of Fish is the story of Mel, an aging Lothario (Matthew Modine), whose primary emotional attachment is with his fish Daphne, but who is shaken out of his complacency by the arrival of Ginger, a tightly-wound British amphibian biologist played by Gina Gershon. In time-honored romantic comedy style, Mel rents his apartment to Ginger, then is forced to move back in with her, to the discomfort of both. At the same time, Mel falls hard for a bride (Christy Cashman) on her wedding day and goes to crazy lengths to pursue the relationship. The director keeps a light touch throughout, and invests some fairly stock romantic situations with a sense of surprise. Really a mainstream romantic comedy on an indie budget, I thought Kettle was more satisfying and a lot funnier than the usual Hollywood fare. After a little bit of a slow start, the second half of the movie really starts hopping, and there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments towards the end, particularly in one of the most awkward seduction scenes I've seen in a while. Great date movie.

I saw it at the Tribeca film festival and I was impressed. "Kettle of Fish" delivers everything you would want from a romantic comedy: a good story, some big laughs and (after a few twists and turns along the way) the happy ending. The thing that makes this film better than most romantic comedies is its original script, its steady pace and a great performance by Matthew Modine. I would have liked to have seen more of Isiah Whitlock Jr. (State Sen. R. Clayton 'Clay' Davis from "The Wire"), but otherwise I have very little to quibble about with this movie. "Kettle of Fish" would make a good choice for a first date movie.

I too first saw this film at the Tribeca Film festival on the opening night which was sold out in a 900+ seat theatre!! I had no expectations of the film but got completely caught up (as did the rest of the audience) as soon as the credits started to roll. First of all, Matthew Modine is great in anything he does and this was no exception. After seeing him play some psychos and some intense roles, this was a refreshing departure where Modine was able to show off his comedic abilities. The supporting cast was stellar - especially Fisher Stevens and Isiah Whitlock. I'm just so tired of all the jaded rhetoric in entertainment - this film was light, fun, funny, had moments of almost innocence - a film a whole family could watch together. It steers away from foul language, anything risqué and at its core is about a handful of people earnestly looking for true love. Albeit they make some mistakes, but some of them actually get there.

Matthew Modine and Gina Gershon do have chemistry in this pleasant romantic comedy. They both look fantastic as well. My favorite moment happens during Modine's pursuit of the unattainable female, offering a surprising twist that sets this Lothario on a reverse course that we have been rooting for the whole time.

After pondering this for too long a time, I have to say it made no sense for Ms. Gershon to take on the English accent. She does it better than Costner did in Robin Hood, but that's not saying much. With no reference to England, without even a nod to different customs that might affect the courtship, what purpose did it serve?

Still, the movie looks great, the small supporting cast is excellent, the script (complete with Gershon's charming improvised asides) is tight and well-constructed with both cinematography and soundtrack offering appropriate support to the lightness of the themes. Overall it has a nice style that grows on you.

Here's to writer-director Claudia Myers who has crafted, if not a home run, a solid double play.

I found this to be a wonderful little debut feature from a writer/director I suspect we will be hearing a lot more about in the years to come. The script attempts to tackle some rather weighty issues, but without compromising the admittedly comedic aspects of attempting to fathom one's own innermost desires. There is something of an existential undercurrent that permeates the story, yielding more than what's typically found in today's boilerplate, "feel good" romantic comedies. I suspect this is what accounts for the participation of some of the cast's more recognizable names. Myers brings out a truly impressive performance from unknown actress Christy Cashman, who all but steals the show in her supporting role. I actually saw this premier at the Tribeca Film Festival, so I had the benefit of hearing the director field questions from the audience and explain what she was attempting to achieve in the storyline. At times the dialogue betrays a profoundness that the casualness of the delivery might not make immediately apparent. In this way I would describe the writing as being somewhat ambitious, but it definitely works. I would not be surprised to see this one get picked-up in the theaters. Highly recommended viewing for the more philosophically inclined.

I like quirky, honest, and I love jazz. Claudia Myers's story is just different enough to pique my interest, and the honesty that is written into her characters, to me, is very refreshing. There is a friend who speaks the truths others won't, a man who doesn't listen, a woman who has to see an example of what she doesn't believe can happen before she's willing to follow her feelings, the "not the jock" side man hoping for more than he's going to get, a jazz loving fish, and a frog named Casanova. The fish and frog are integral to the story, and to the message of the film. Brilliant writing. Using precise word choices and dialogue, the truths of the characters shine though. On the directorial side, Ms. Myers has gone for reality. It's quiet, mundane in the most respectful and complimentary sense; it's how humans interact. These people just are and do. Yet, the concepts of life they are exploring are deeply important and often, as the film depicts, confusing and stifling. The biggest plus for me was the score. I'm a huge jazz fan; what a gift to have jazz play an important role in a storyline. And soooo tasty. Thank you, Jay Mason, Greg Eichen, Garry Gibbons, David Tobocman, and especially Ryan Shore for the ever so sweet sax. It's the perfect wave for the rolling highs and lows these characters are navigating, that we all navigate. About that honesty. These people are we. If you don't see yourself in this film, you're missing something. Don't let the quietness fool you; there's a lot going on here. Here, less is so much more.

Well, I'm a fan of both Mathew Modine and Gina Gershon, but this movie really tanks. It take about ten minutes into the movie before you can figure out the ending. It's a little too obvious. I actually fell asleep during this film. The thing is, why is Gina Gershon playing an English woman? She doesn't have a real English accent, and she doesn't look even close to being English. It's like seeing an Egyptian actor playing native Scottish guy named Angus McTavish. And her as an amphibian biologist - in New York? Downtown? Yes, that makes perfect sense. Well, this one will be going on the shelf and possibly a garage sale for .25 cents.