Well, yeah, they do. But Dead Fish, the movie, does not stink. The film hasn’t gotten much, if any, publicity. If you’re not a Gary Oldman fan who’s been haunting the video shops waiting for this film to be released in the U.S.(for the last 2 years, thank you, very much), chances are you haven’t even heard of it. So, if you are one of the millions in the U.S. who don’t have the foggiest idea what Dead Fish is (are?), let me be the first to recommend that you rent this DVD the next time you’re in the mood for a good, fun movie.

I only found three reviews on Rotten Tomatoes; one didn’t like it, one was in German (I think) and one thought it was good enough for a fun evening with beer and pizza. I’m with the beer and pizza guy, this is a fun movie. The critic who didn’t like it just didn’t get it. Since this film was released straight to DVD in the U.S., with no publicity that I have seen, Roger Ebert hasn’t reviewed it at all.

There are mixed reviews from people on IMDB.com. Die-hard Gary Oldman fans, naturally, simply adore the movie and made me a little nauseous with their shrieks of delight. Equally irritating were those self-proclaimed film authorities who tried to dissect the dialogue, the production values, the flow, the editing, the this and the that. Honestly, folks, this is just a fun, silly British comedy.

There is absolutely nothing in the film that can or should be taken seriously. It’s all fun and games, from Gary Oldman breaking into song in a daydream to Billy Zane getting shot dead by Karl Roden. Billy Zane falls over dead funnier than anyone I know.

The film opens with Robert Carlyle screaming into a phone and Carlyle’s character continues in that same tone all throughout. His character reminded me of a skinny tomcat who tries to scream louder than his well-fed rivals, hoping that the mere sound of his shriek will scare them off so that he won‘t have to fight them. Carlyle plays a loan shark who has trouble collecting from his clients and he’s a riot.

Billy Zane plays Virgil, a very British, very proper, very smiley, Special Operative of some kind - we never really find out exactly who he is working for - who's called in to check up on Lynch, played by Gary Oldman, who has gotten his cell phone switched with Abe’s. Abe is played by Andrew Lee Potts. Lynch is a hit man. He’s also into S&M and soap operas. And he falls in love-at-first-sight with Abe’s girlfriend, Mimi, played by Elena Anaya. The story is about the complications that arise because of that cell phone switch and about Lynch’s attempts to win the heart of Mimi.

This is definitely not the kind of movie Hollywood is currently putting out. It reminds me of films from the 60s or 70s. So, if you are a fan of British comedy films from that era, this one will be right up your alley. In a way, it looks a lot like the Beatles movie, Help! but don’t go expecting to see another Help!. Dead Fish stands on its own as a unique creation.

Terrence Stamp and Karl Roden also have small but very funny and enjoyable roles and Jimi Mistry is great as Abe’s stoner friend, Salvador.

Gary Oldman, of course, is the main attraction here, and he is an absolute hoot in leather and handcuffs, singing “It’s Love (And It’s A Wonderful Thing),” hanging from a remote controlled robot on top of a van, trying to woo and then kidnapping the woman he’s fallen in love with, and then forcing her to watch soap operas and eat bonbons with him. Mr. Oldman is sarcastic, deadly and funny as he goes about his role as a hired, professional killer and he’s simply hilarious as the smitten, would-be lover who can’t get the object of his affections to return his love. I’ve always said that Gary Oldman is, at his very core, a true comedian and I think this film shows off that side of his talent very well.

Dead Fish is available for purchase at Amazon.com and you can rent it at Netflix.com and Blockbuster.com. If you’re looking for a fun movie this weekend to go with your beer and pizza - or your salad and soda, I highly recommend this one.

Watch the trailer.