Kettle of Fish

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!

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.

...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.

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.

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..........