Drop Dead Fred 1991

Johanna Steinmetz, Chicago Tribune: Drop Dead Fred is a movie for people who like the sound of fingernails on blackboards and the feel of a drill bearing into a bicuspid. Read more

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: This is easily one of the worst films I've ever seen. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Los Angeles Times: Drop Dead Fred is an erratic stab at making madness sensible, a slapstick nightmare that goes too sane, that tries too hard to be both good and rotten. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: The movie is no comic masterpiece, but it is consistently amusing in a way that sometimes reminded me of a kiddie picture and at other times of a more sophisticated comedy. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: The episodic flashbacks are cast in an unfunny Freudian light -- domineering mother, helpless hubby, the tragically withdrawn child. What a laugh riot! Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: It tries too hard to mimic Beetlejuice, especially in British comic Rik Mayall's frantic performance as the title character -- Mayall is no Michael Keaton -- but it has a whimsical comic energy. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Drop Dead Fred wants to be an offbeat cross between Harvey and Beetlejuice, but it is more like a shrill, interminable episode of I Dream of Jeannie. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: As the naughty ghost pal of Phoebe Cates, an obnoxious British actor named Rik Mayall is like Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice without the juice. Read more

Time Out: Cates appears strangely resigned to each life-shattering episode; even the goggle-eyed, frantic Mayall fails to galvanise her. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Director Ate De Jong has captured the silliness of childhood with the hyperactive title character but too often drills jokes deep into the pavement, until even children will have long stopped laughing. Read more

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: Drop Dead Fred gives imaginary friends everywhere a bad name; one only hopes that there is an Imaginary Friend Defamation League. Read more