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MOVIES / ON DVD / DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN
Desperately Seeking Susan

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Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

88%
100%
60%
N/A
N/A
N/A
88 %
Reviews Counted: 25 Fresh: 22  Rotten:3 Average Rating: 6.7/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins

Synopsis: Rosanna Arquette is Roberta Glass, a bored New Jersey yuppie housewife who finds escapism from her mundane life in the New York personal ad exploits of a flighty bohemian named Susan (Madonna). When Roberta travels to the city to witness an ad-inspired meeting between Susan and her lover... Rosanna Arquette is Roberta Glass, a bored New Jersey yuppie housewife who finds escapism from her mundane life in the New York personal ad exploits of a flighty bohemian named Susan (Madonna). When Roberta travels to the city to witness an ad-inspired meeting between Susan and her lover Jimmy, she bumps her head, loses her memory, and for all intents and purposes, becomes Susan, thanks to a case of mistaken identity. As a result, she is pursued by crooks and other shady characters through the funky East Village of the early '80's. Quinn is the confused film protectionist who stumbles into the role of Roberta/Susan's protector. Madonna, not quite a superstar when this was filmed, uses this small role to show the sort of charisma she would soon shower upon the world in larger doses. Steven Wright, Giancarlo Esposito, Richard Hell, Ann Magnuson, John Lurie, and Arto Lindsay also turn up in small roles in this screwball '80's love letter to the downtown scene. [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: Madonna, Rosanna Arquette, Mark Blum, Laurie Metcalf, Aidan Quinn

Director: Susan Seidelman
Screenwriter: Leora Barish

DVD Info

Release:

Jan 6, 2001

[DVD Details]
  • DVD Features
  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
  • Single Side - Single Layer
  • Audio:

    • Dolby Digital Mono 2.0 - English

    Additional Release Material:

    • Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
    • Audio Commentary - 1. Producer
    • Alternate Ending

    Reviews

     
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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    N/R

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/23/08
    Channel 4 Film
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Even if the plotting (a mistaken identity farce involving that old chestnut, amnesia brought on by a bump to the head) is square as a square peg. Madonna has never found a better fit than the role of Susan.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    01/26/06
    Time Out
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    5/5

    A fine slice of '80s nostalgia -- even for people who weren't there first time around.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    01/01/00
    Empire Magazine
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    3.5/4

    Director Susan Seidelman guides her cast with a light, enthusiastic touch, never making more out of her frothy material than need be.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/23/08
    TV Guide's Movie Guide
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    All of this is cause for consistent smiling and a few outright laughs, without ever building to complete comedy.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/23/08
    Variety Staff
    Variety
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    Ratings Image
    N/A

    The film acquires a pleasant, syncopated rhythm as it bounces from one unlikely event to another.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/23/08
    Dave Kehr
    Chicago Reader
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/29/07
    Neil Cohen
    Echo Magazine
    Ratings Image
    3/4

    Featuring the first (and only decent) screen performance by Madona, this charming comedy imposes the old fracical gimmick of amnesia on a hip and stylish East Village milieu.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    06/20/06
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/07/05
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/24/05
    Jake Euker
    F5 (Wichita, KS)
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/04/05
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    Offbeat Susan Seidelman comedy features funny Madonna and Arquette.

    comment Comment
    06/08/05
    Steve Crum
    Video-Reviewmaster.com
    Ratings Image
    3/4

    It has its moments, and many of them involve the different kinds of special appeal that Arquette and Madonna are able to generate.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/23/04
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    2/5

    This has to be the most overrated movie of 1985.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    03/26/04
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/22/03
    Carol Cling
    Las Vegas Review-Journal
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/22/03
    Carol Cling
    Las Vegas Review-Journal
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/04/03
    Ryan Cracknell
    Movie Views
    Ratings Image
    4/5

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/31/03
    Nell Minow
    Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
    Ratings Image
    1/5

    Surprisingly boring and annoying '80s movie. Mistaken identity, blah. Nothing really funny happens.

    comment Comment
    07/14/03
    Fred Topel
    About.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Janet Maslin
    New York Times
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