Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Nicki M

  
  The full five star rating for this one as it is a movie I loved when I was about 11 and Madonna was my all time favorite singer (that changed two albums in when she became crap, but anyhow, at this stage she could do no wrong). This is the perfect role for Madonna - I guess because… More
  The full five star rating for this one as it is a movie I loved when I was about 11 and Madonna was my all time favorite singer (that changed two albums in when she became crap, but anyhow, at this stage she could do no wrong). This is the perfect role for Madonna - I guess because she pretty much plays herself. A bit obnoxious, and willing to use her sexuality to get her own way (I never realized how much of this movie she spends in her bra until I re watched it last night. Rosanna Arquette, also perfect here. She is the more relatable character of the two. Still very attractive, but lacking Susan's confidence, which I guess it's so great that it ends as it does. Won't go on too much as I am sure most people have seen this one by now, but if you haven't, it is pretty much the ultimate chick flick and full of great 80's fashions to top it off.

• Spencer S

  
  characteristics of some action thriller or eighties mainstay. Even with Madonna's star power it isn't some icon in pop culture or memorable flop. This was originally some star making oppurtunity for Rosanna Arquette, who is the main character of this film. Her character is… More
  characteristics of some action thriller or eighties mainstay. Even with Madonna's star power it isn't some icon in pop culture or memorable flop. This was originally some star making oppurtunity for Rosanna Arquette, who is the main character of this film. Her character is the dullest of everyone, not respressed, not uber religious, and she doesn't have any attributes that would suggest rebellion other than blandness. Her husband at least cheats, lies, and does drugs. Madonna's character is also boring, but in the out of place misfit way. The only main difference in her compared to everyone else is her attire, which was out of place next to the yuppie moneybags of Wall Street, but by 1985 had gone mainstream. Madonna does some of her worst acting here, not that she was that great an actress to begin with. The plot is so obvious and banal, and right when I thought they would go somewhere else with it, it faltered and died. The mistaken personality gambit was just as cliched as ever, and nothing new came of it. The only deciding factor in a person's enjoyment of this was the charm of nostalgia, the soundtrack and clothes and blithe attitudes of the disenfranchised was such a trip down history lane. Madonna really clinches it, but it doesn't hurt that extras included John Turturro, Steven Wright, Laurie Metcalf. The best aspect is the relationship between Rosanna Arquette and Aiden Quinn, the unknown hipster love interest of the nineties, ala Benny and Joon. It was quirky, cute, and extremely sweet, but doomed from the start.

• Jim H

  
  Mistaken identity and amnesia cause a plain housewife to trade lives with a mercurial punk rocker. I think the draw of this film is the cultural milieu it captured. The 80s punk scene is personified by Madonna's Susan, and I can see why some would find the depiction appealing.… More
  Mistaken identity and amnesia cause a plain housewife to trade lives with a mercurial punk rocker. I think the draw of this film is the cultural milieu it captured. The 80s punk scene is personified by Madonna's Susan, and I can see why some would find the depiction appealing. After all, such counter-culture movements were, and are, portrayed in negative terms, and there's no judgment in this film: infidelity, random sexual escapades, and a odd fashion sense are all upheld. If anything, the establishment is the villain. But the film is a pile of stinking cliches. Amnesia and mistaken identity are about the oldest ploys I can think of, and it's not hard to predict who ends up with whom. And Madonna's performance doesn't evince a real character, a complete person; rather, she's just a stand-in for the cultural movement she represents. Overall, <i>Desperately Seeking Susan</i>, a title that makes me want to defend adverbs, is a film-by-numbers cliche, but there are a few minor redeeming qualities.

• AJ V

  
  Maybe Madonna wasn't the best actress, but it doesn't matter in this movie, the story is good and interesting and funny. Plus Arquette gives a good performance, which makes up for Madonna's. I really enjoyed this movie, it's charming.

• Jason S

  
  It's an ok movie about mistaken identity but I think it would have been a lot better had the movie been about Arquette and Madonna hanging out rather than being apart for nearly the whole flick. It was a little slow at parts and there was one thing in the plot that made me roll… More
  It's an ok movie about mistaken identity but I think it would have been a lot better had the movie been about Arquette and Madonna hanging out rather than being apart for nearly the whole flick. It was a little slow at parts and there was one thing in the plot that made me roll my eyes a little but it was watchable. Very 80's and that was worth the price for the walk down memory lane as I was a fan of that decade.

• Jani H

  
  "Roberta can't be a prostitute, she doesn't even like sex that much. It's impossible" I had a faint memory about this film from my childhood. Now, seeing it again after 20+ years, I can't understand why I even had memories at all... It's got… More
  "Roberta can't be a prostitute, she doesn't even like sex that much. It's impossible" I had a faint memory about this film from my childhood. Now, seeing it again after 20+ years, I can't understand why I even had memories at all... It's got Madonna, a boring story, stupid acting and characters you couldn't care less. Comedy? WTF? Ok, there was one positive thing about it all and that was my favourite comedian Steven Wright! I'd otherwise give it a 1 star rating but because of him, I'll ad an extra bonus half..

• Dean !

  
  An ok film starring Madonna as she takes on a new life after having amnesia.

• Mark H

  
  Once upon a time, Madonna was perfectly cast in a movie.

• Dean M

  
  Once upon a time, there was a pop singer on the verge of fame who starred in a quirky, fast-paced farce that was funny and fresh. Well, this is the one film where Madonna really does get it right. She's excellent as the mysterious Susan who so fascinates bored housewife Rosanna… More
  Once upon a time, there was a pop singer on the verge of fame who starred in a quirky, fast-paced farce that was funny and fresh. Well, this is the one film where Madonna really does get it right. She's excellent as the mysterious Susan who so fascinates bored housewife Rosanna Arquette. A very good, fun little movie.

• Candy R

  
  80s flick full of adventure. Love Madonna, love the music.

• xGary X

  
  Wacky caper movie involving a bored suburban housewife who gets amnesia and wakes up thinking she's Madonna. It oozes 80s kitsch, and will have it's fans/enemies purely because of that, but from an objective standpoint, it's an OK screwball comedy with a decent enough… More
  Wacky caper movie involving a bored suburban housewife who gets amnesia and wakes up thinking she's Madonna. It oozes 80s kitsch, and will have it's fans/enemies purely because of that, but from an objective standpoint, it's an OK screwball comedy with a decent enough cast. But it shall never be forgiven for convincing Madonna she could act...

• Lee K

  
  i only watched this for madonna and wish i hadnt totally sucked

• Leo L

  
  I admit. This has been a movie of my childhood. Although it doesn't have a stable plot, it was interesting enough to see Madonna's performance nevertheless.

• Sarah P

  
  This was pretty much Madonna's breakout movie role and she pretty much played a character like herself. The movie wasn't great, but it was enjoyable.

• Buddy A

  
  Desperately Seeking the Exit.

• Anthony V

  
  A tad overrated.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings