Greenes
Please don't spend money on this.
Patience Watson
One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.
Stephanie
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Python Hyena
Drowning Mona (2000): Dir: Nick Gomez / Cast: Danny De Vito, Bette Midler, Neve Campbell, Jason Lee Curtis, William Fichtner: Interesting concept relates to a corrupt conquest upon one very unsympathetic woman. When the brakes fail on her car Mona drives off a cliff and drowns. She is seen mainly in flashbacks by those who are glad to see her gone. She is not seen as a personality but rather a vessel of great anger. Her husband is a louse who is sleeping with a waitress. Danny De Vito plays a cop who finds it intriguing that nobody misses this woman. Director Nick Gomez does a fine job at making everyone look guilty but the humour is often sickening. De Vito as the cop is standard issue with no comic scenery to be had. Bette Midler as Mona is a total lunatic. She yells, complains and does things that would render other people candidates for the loony bin. Neve Campbell plays De Vito's daughter who is involved with the suspect. Jamie Lee Curtis plays the waitress nervous due to the risk of exposure. She is involved with the victim's father therefore a prime suspect. William Fichtner plays Mona's widowed husband and he fails to conceal his excitement over his new found freedom. Advertized as a comedy but one wonders why anyone would find this revolting garbage funny. It is an interesting analysis of motives and behaviours but it drowns in its ending. Score: 5 / 10
MartinHafer
"Drowning Mona" is a frustrating comedy. It has interesting characters and situations and I found myself really enjoying the film--only to have it all fizzle at the end. And, with such an unsatisfying ending and its inability to capitalize on a potentially funny situation, it's a film that you probably shouldn't rush to see on DVD.This film is very unusual in that one of the main characters of the film, Mona (Bette Midler) is killed in the first few minutes of the movie. The car she's driving has been sabotaged and the vehicle goes careening into the river. The head of the local police, Chief Rash (Danny DeVito), investigates the case and soon learns that the brakes were tampered with in multiple ways--as if someone REALLY wanted to make sure she was dead. And so, through a series of interviews and flashbacks, you learn who did this as well as what a thoroughly awful and hateful person Mona was.The film gets high marks for setting the right stage for a comedy. Mona is so awful I kept thinking that EVERYONE in town was in on the murder---sort of like in "Murder on the Orient Express". But t just didn't capitalize on the comedy gold that seemed to be awaiting the viewer. Funny people, a funny idea and then...nothing.By the way, I noticed that a lot of reviewers didn't like how dark the tone was of the film. I actually liked that a lot--I just didn't think they were able to capitalize on this properly--hence my score of 6--which indicates it's mildly amusing and watchable but nothing more.
mikeychef
I am so missing my copy of, "Drowning Mona", luckily it has been on my cable movie channel lately. Anyway, I have always been shocked that this film never saw more critical acclaim. To me it is the epitome of what a, "dark comedy", should be. The tremendous word play, goofy (yet well developed characters as well as character relationships), even though the characters were mostly small town and moronic, they were intertwined/interwoven in such a smart and believable way to me it is a tragedy this film is not known to most movie lovers, for it is high up on my list of all time favorite funny movies. Although thanks to your website I have at least come to find out that this film has been characterized as having a cult following, which makes me feel more at ease. The all star cast delivers one liners after one liners that all add up to such a hilarious finish, not only does it get better with age like a great bottle of red wine or single malt, but I always come away noticing something(albeit small) new. Spending time growing up both in a Pennsylvanian small town and the Bay Area, I love the small town feel of this movie, yet I find the characters intellect to be closer to those of big city even though they're relationships are more small town. Anyway I love this movie, and never do things like this but just had to give props to the creators, writer, and cast for such a spectacular piece of art, big up's!
yddsp@aol.com
I can't understand how anyone can't find at least one redeeming quality to this movie, I think it is HILARIOUS, but maybe it's because I also live in New York, though have never driven a Yugo, but that's not the point either, LOL....you have to accept this film for what it is and was intended to be; an incredulously deep, dark comedy, in the style of the classic 'noir' only with a satirical edge and in the daytime. One has to sympathize with Sheriff Rash, wait, no, no, he's not actually a sheriff, LOL....the witty, yet gruff and banal yet exaggerated repartee, no...banter, is the element that makes this film a true comedy classic, I would equate the likes of this comedy with that of "The Birdcage", an incredulous, somewhat exasperating take on normal everyday life and the people that help to convolute it, LOL.....I love you Mona Dearly...but wouldn't miss you too terribly, LOL...see it, only have your tongue in your cheek! EXCELLENT!
