Director: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Melanie Griffith, Jeff Daniels, Ray Liotta
Running Time: 113 minutes
Synopsis: In New York City, Charlie (Jeff Daniels) is a recently promoted corporate VP. On a whim, he jumps into the car of the free-spirited Lulu (Melanie Griffith). After she robs a New Jersey liquor store, they have sex at a cheap motel. In Pennsylvania, Lulu reveals her real name is Audrey and introduces Charlie as her husband to her mother Peaches. But the wild adventure takes a dark turn when Audrey's ex-husband Ray (Ray Liotta), a career criminal recently released from prison, shows up at her high school reunion party.
What Works Well: A companion piece to other mid-eighties men-out-of-their-element adventures like After Hours and Into The Night, Something Wild joins a suit-and-tie corporate type as he jettisons caution and surrenders to the erratic desires of a compelling stranger. Melanie Griffith brings a buzz of energy to Lulu/Audrey, and hints at a complex backstory that deserved more attention. Ray Liotta immediately introduces menace and tension, although he enters the story late.
What Does Not Work As Well: None of the behaviour on display carries any whiff of realism, degrading events into episodes of irresponsible silliness. Given his lack of judgment it's difficult to imagine in what context Charlie becomes a Vice President of anything, and any deep-seated motivations or explanations driving his acquiescence and Lulu's impulsiveness are studiously ignored. The final act veers towards crime and violence inconsistent with the preceding vibe.
Key Quote:
Charlie: Look, if you don't turn around and take me back, you're gonna make me do something that I don't wanna do.
Lulu: I can hardly wait, Charlie.
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