Shooting Fish MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -1 1/2

Two young boys, Jez (Stuart Townsend) in London and Dylan (Dan Futterman) in New York, are both penniless orphans and both want more than anything else a large mansion to live in. When they grow up, Dylan is a handsome, likable con man and must make a quick exit to London to avoid a gang he owes money to. By chance, he runs into Jez, a computer expert in London, and they team up to become professional scam artists. Their goal is to acquire 2 million British pounds to buy their dream house. They hire Georgie (Kate Beckinsale), an attractive medical student, to be their part time secretary. She soon discovers their various activities are illegal, but stays with them against her better judgment. Among other things, they sell bogus super computers to businessmen and install insulation in homes,only to take it out and sell it again. Not surprising, they end up in prison, but they don't give up. Along the way, the shy Jez and Georgie become attracted to each other, and Dylan also finds him a companion. This spirited British comedy is good for some laughs, but it is short on real laugh out loud humor.

Being rated PG, SHOOTING FISH has fewer offensive elements than most films being produced these days. In fact, its only really serious flaw is the use of ten obscenities and five regular profanities in its dialogue. To their credit, Dylan and Jez only steal from the rich in Robin Hood style and at one point agree to pay back in installments the money they've stolen. While dancing with Georgie, Dylan subtly proposes sex to her, but she declines. There are no sex scenes in the film and only a couple of suggestive remarks alluding to sex. However, one comical scene shows a number of nude mannequins. Somewhat disgusting, Dylan is shown on a toilet a few times trying to pass a key to a money case he has swallowed. If it were not for its foul language, SHOOTING FISH would be a fairly decent film.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035