Something Wild
(1986)
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Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels star in this quirky road movie from director Jonathan Demme (MARRIED TO THE MOB, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS). Charlie Driggs (Daniels) is a timid New York investment broker who lets himself be abducted during his lunch hour by an attractive nut named Lulu (Griffith). While drunk, she drives him to a New Jersey hotel for some kinky sex and petty thievery, and later convinces him to accompany her to Pennsylvania and pose as her husband at her high school reunion. More misadventures ensue, and Charlie gradually finds himself loosening up and falling in love, but then the film makes a sudden left turn with the appearance of Ray (Ray Liotta), Lulu's real husband--a violent ex-convict. As the film's tone oscillates from lightheartedness to darkness, Demme's affection for his characters never wavers, and he keeps things moving with a jubilant soundtrack of global music and a roster of cameo appearances that include directors John Waters and John Sayles, and musicians the Feelies and Sister Carol. It's a comedy, it's a drama, it's a look at the pleasures and dangers of stepping outside the norm, in life and in film. |
Radio Times
In this black comedy drama from director Jonathan Demme, meek Jeff Daniels is dragged into a “yuppie nightmare” of boozing and bondage after an accidental meeting with flaky femme fatale Melanie Griffith, who persuades him to attend her high-school reunion. The film moves up a violent gear when her crazed ex-con husband Ray Liotta kidnaps them both for his own vengeful purposes. Constantly confounding expectations as to where it's going, Demme's jet-black anarchic comedy features a marvellous rock soundtrack and a great performance by Griffith. Just watch out for those shocking shifts in style as the lethal paranoia builds.
