Desperately Seeking Susan

Name: Desperately Seeking Susan
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: April 12, 1985
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Aidan Quinn, Anna Levine, Laurie Metcalf, Madonna, Mark Blum

1985

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 35 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 35 Ratings

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Desperately Seeking Susan

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Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures | Release Date: April 12, 1985 | PG-13

Starring: Aidan Quinn, Anna Levine, Laurie Metcalf, Madonna, Mark Blum, Peter Maloney, Robert Joy, Rosanna Arquette, Steven Wright, Will Patton

Summary: A bored suburban housewife, seeking escape from her life, suffers amnesia after an accident, wakes up, and is mistaken for a free-spirited New York City drifter named Susan.

Director: Susan Seidelman

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 104 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire William Thomas

A whimsical but optimistic tale of mistaken identity, it starred the Material Girl as the cheekily irresistible Susan, and turned Rosanna Arquette (repressed housewife Roberta) into a star. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Actress Rosanna Arquette and video vamp Madonna star in this wonderful new-wave mix-up, directed by the difficult but dynamic Susan Seidelman. Arquette is angelic as the outsider Roberta looking to get in, a quixotic New Jersey housewife kept in a yuppie palace by her husband, the hot tub man (Mark Blum).

Kevin Thomas

Desperately Seeking Susan is a lark, an exhilarating celebration of people who have the good sense to be in touch with themselves and with each other. Read full review

Lynn Van Matre

It's a highly implausible story, but one that's told with engaging, often witty style, enhanced by the film's offbeat settings and situations and the charm of its cast. [29 Mar 1985, p.E]

Dave Kehr

The film acquires a pleasant, syncopated rhythm as it bounces from one unlikely event to another, and Seidelman manages some nice detailing in the minor characters. Arquette is consistently charming and inventive in a role that barely exists as written, and Madonna is given ample opportunity to strut her stuff. Read full review

Jay Scott

The plot contracts classically as it approaches its delectably bizarre climax but Desperately Seeking Susan never achieves the hilarity it promises; it's a pleasant enough picture, and it has a bona-fide look, but it lacks a style. It also lacks the qualities essential to farce - pace, verve, timing, surprise. [02 Apr 1985]

Paul Attanasio

Desperately Seeking Susan is just a woman's version of The Woman in Red, where Gene Wilder chased Kelly Le Brock because she was great looking and rich and he had the middle-class blues. The only difference is that Wilder felt guilty about it. Read full review

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User Reviews

garyCerav

Aug 5, 2021

pelicula de culto, se puede ver la personalidad de Madonna tal cual, me encanta la Madonna de los 80s.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jcalves93

May 23, 2020

Eu nem era nascido quando foi lançado e digo que é um dos filmes mais divertidos e emocionantes que eu já vi. Atuação de Madonna está incrível para a primeira vez.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tintin_tintine

Aug 30, 2017

I love almost everything about this movie, especially "Into The Groove", The Jacket and slightly overweight Madonna. I've watched it in 2000s for the first time after Madonna's "Die Another Day" music video. Was surprised she wasn't nominated for her Susan. Here in Russia singing is almost aI love almost everything about this movie, especially "Into The Groove", The Jacket and slightly overweight Madonna. I've watched it in 2000s for the first time after Madonna's "Die Another Day" music video. Was surprised she wasn't nominated for her Susan. Here in Russia singing is almost a must have part of any actor's portfolio. Another tradition, I guess. But Madonna even did songwriting for this movie, which, by any means, is cool. I like her co-star punk rock boyfriend but ship her with the lead actor - handsome Italian-looking guy. But sometimes less is more - and Madonna's Susan is all about that.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Queenpop

Aug 6, 2021

un clásico, que no se pueden perder, película muy divertida, entretenida, y refleja muy bien la época de los 80s, disfrutable al 100%

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lament93

Oct 13, 2021

A classic movie of the 1980s, Desperate Seeking Susan is a time capsule that while take you back to an era I didn't live but I so badly want to when watching this movie!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JacqueM

Nov 25, 2021

This is what people thought Madonna would be, but she changed her image completely with True Blue. The Queen of Pop never stops to re-invent herself.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Nov 15, 2019

L'un des rares, très rares films avec Madonna... et on comprend pourquoi assez vite : la blondasse est en effet complètement à la masse... mais le plus inquiétant concerne Rosanna à peine moins mauvaise que la chanteuse sulfureuse. Cela dit, Rosanna n'a jamais inventé l'eau chaude et encoreL'un des rares, très rares films avec Madonna... et on comprend pourquoi assez vite : la blondasse est en effet complètement à la masse... mais le plus inquiétant concerne Rosanna à peine moins mauvaise que la chanteuse sulfureuse. Cela dit, Rosanna n'a jamais inventé l'eau chaude et encore moins l'eau tiède, on y fait donc guère attention.

On ne fait pas attention non plus à l'histoire (?) de cette sorte de comédie poussive qui mulitplie les prouesses en matière à la fois d'inanité et de niaiserie : peut-être est-ce un produit visant uniquement les fans de la fausse madonne décolorée et/ou les adolescents un peu simples ?

En tout cas, pour tout spectateur normalement constitué, ce n'est pas regardable, car ici en vérité, on brasse du vide avec de la merde. Recherche donc film... désespérément. Et sans les grognasses si possible.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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