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Drowning Mona

  • 2000
  • PG-13
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Neve Campbell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, and Bette Midler in Drowning Mona (2000)
Theatrical Trailer from Destination Films
Play trailer2:23
1 Video
69 Photos
Dark ComedyFarceWhodunnitComedyCrimeMystery

When a woman drives a car into the river to her death, everyone in town becomes a suspect.When a woman drives a car into the river to her death, everyone in town becomes a suspect.When a woman drives a car into the river to her death, everyone in town becomes a suspect.

  • Director
    • Nick Gomez
  • Writer
    • Peter Steinfeld
  • Stars
    • Danny DeVito
    • Bette Midler
    • Neve Campbell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nick Gomez
    • Writer
      • Peter Steinfeld
    • Stars
      • Danny DeVito
      • Bette Midler
      • Neve Campbell
    • 177User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
    • 25Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Drowning Mona
    Trailer 2:23
    Drowning Mona

    Photos69

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    + 63
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    Top cast31

    Edit
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Chief Rash
    Bette Midler
    Bette Midler
    • Mona Dearly
    Neve Campbell
    Neve Campbell
    • Ellen
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Rona
    Casey Affleck
    Casey Affleck
    • Bobby
    William Fichtner
    William Fichtner
    • Phil Dearly
    Marcus Thomas
    Marcus Thomas
    • Jeff Dearly
    Peter Dobson
    Peter Dobson
    • Feege
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    • Lucinda
    Tracey Walter
    Tracey Walter
    • Clarence
    Will Ferrell
    Will Ferrell
    • Cubby
    Paul Ben-Victor
    Paul Ben-Victor
    • Carlucci
    Paul Schulze
    Paul Schulze
    • Jimmy D.
    Mark Pellegrino
    Mark Pellegrino
    • Murph
    Raymond O'Connor
    Raymond O'Connor
    • Father Tom
    Lisa Rieffel
    Lisa Rieffel
    • Valerie
    Robert Arce
    Robert Arce
    • Doctor Schwartz
    Brittany Peterson
    • Maria Lasala
    • Director
      • Nick Gomez
    • Writer
      • Peter Steinfeld
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews177

    5.716.2K
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    Featured reviews

    7K N

    Not as bad as you would think!

    From the ratings here on this site, I didn't expect too much seeing it on dvd. However, I had a good time and the movie was quite entertaining. The humor is mostly subtle but intelligent. Casey Affleck is amazing and totally reminded me of his brother Ben in some scenes. Overall, a 7 out of 10.
    7Morgan-10

    Not fantastic but a decent quirky comedy

    I enjoyed this film a fair amount. It definitely wasn't great but I did keep laughing. Lots of funny bits, that made me laugh out loud. Yes, this could have been better but I'm not exactly sure how. Perhaps the pacing was a bit off, that's what comes to mind. I think it's worth watching if you're interested in a quirky movie. Not as good as, but along the lines of Fargo.

    7/10
    6imseeg

    Starts out great, peters out half way through. Terrific acting though and (farcical) funny enough for 1 watch.

    An obnoxious woman (Bette Midler), who was despised by everyone who knew her, got murdered. Who did it?

    The characters in this movie are to die for, because they are truly hilarious. Great acting, by a lot of great actors. But after a great start, the movie slowly peters out.

    Funny enough for 1 watch, but when you know the plot, there isnt much else left to be enjoyed. Yes, the jokes are good, but this comedy is a bit TOO dumb and farcical at times. I can only handle that many farcical jokes in a row before I get numb.

    For fans of Casey Affleck dont let this chance pass by to see him, because he is truly hilarious as a meek, blonde, dumb looser. Will Ferrel as a funeral employee is hilarious as well.
    7merklekranz

    Highly recommended for "black comedy" junkies .............

    In a town full of "Yugo" cars, and mentally challenged residents, we find fertile ground for a terrific dark comedy. Bette Midler plays Mona, a monstrous woman everybody has a reason to hate. When her Yugo plunges into the lake due to foul play, no one seems to care that she is dead, and everyone is a suspect in "Drowning Mona". William Fichtner absolutely steals this movie, as Mona's "battered husband", who likes to play "Wheel of Fortune" with Jamie Lee Curtis. Meanwhile, Danny DeVito, as the sheriff, has plenty of suspects, including his future son-in law. If you enjoy "black comedies" like "Ruthless People" or "Eating Raoul", this is a must see, and comes highly recommended. - MERK
    10lughsaoirseeire

    Underrated gem...

    I believe that this movie was panned when it first came out, and I don't know why. It is truly an underrated comedic gem that deserves more recognition. The performances are perfect (with the exception of Campbell) and the dialogue is hysterical.

    William Fichtner steals the show as the sleazy "battered husband." His performance is tops in a stellar cast. Marcus Thomas is excellent as his son and lazy landscaping partner to Affleck, who is marvelous as the nervous and long-suffering lead. Will Ferrell puts in a great cameo as a creepy mortician.

    Are there flaws? Of course. As another comment mentioned, Tracy Walter's character, Clarence, could have been developed more. Also, some the other characters' run-ins with Mona probably could've been better detailed as well, and the resolution isn't the most satisfying. But this movie is less about the plot and more great characterizations and riotous dialogue.

    I own the DVD and I roll with laughter every time I see it, even though I practically have it memorized. This movie should be remembered as

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Lorna Patterson in Airplane! (1980)
    Farce
    Jude Law in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
    Whodunnit
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The "Fetzer valve", when Lucinda the mechanic is giving the Sheriff her findings about Mona's car, she says the "Fetzer valve" had been punctured. A "Fetzer valve" is a fictional part of an engine, introduced in the movie Fletch (1985).
    • Goofs
      When the coroner first jumps into the water to check Mona's dead body, he is neck-deep in water. For the rest of the scene, he is dry from the waist up.
    • Quotes

      Chief Wyatt Rash: My mother always used to say, "When life hands you potatoes, make potato salad!"

      Mona Dearly: Yeah? Well life handed me a whole pile-a shit! What am I supposed to make outta that?

      Phil Dearly: Shit salad?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #8.33 (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Never Been to Spain
      Written by Hoyt Axton

      Performed by Three Dog Night

      Courtesy of MCA Records

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 3, 2000 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • ¿Quién no mató a Mona?
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Code Entertainment
      • Jersey Shore
      • Marigold Productions Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $37,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $15,506,764
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,802,229
      • Mar 5, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,910,104
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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