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Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Mark Blum, Robert Joy ... see more see more... , Laurie Metcalf , Anna Levine , Will Patton , Peter Maloney , Steven Wright , John Turturro , Anne Carlisle , Shirley Stoler , Victor Argo , Paul Austin , Michael Badalucco , Adele Bertei , Timothy Carhart , Kim Chan , Curt Dempster , Richard Edson , Giancarlo Esposito , Annie Golden , Richard Hell , John Hoyt , Patrick John Hurley , Ilene Kristen , Carol Leifer , Arto Lindsay , Isabel Lorca , Ann Magnuson , Harsh Nayyar , Lázaro Pérez , Richard Portnow , Gary Ray , Rockets Redglare , Jose Santana , John Lurie , Henry Adler , Gary Binkow , Steve Bosh , Elie J. Boubli , Daisy Bradford , Stanley Burns , Peter Castellotti , Iris Chacon , Michael R. Chin , Wendy Dasteel , Steve Eidel , Marty Gold , Joyce Griffen , Rosemary Hochschild , Mary Joy , Shirley Kaplan , Michael Herz & Llyod Kaufman , Richard S. Lowy , Donna Ritchie , Gilda Tortorello , J.B. Waters , Alvy West , Keita Whitten , Billy Hopkins , Risa Bramon Garcia , Michael Bramon

A petite New Jersey housewife finds self-fulfillment through amnesia in this new wave comedy of errors set in New York's hip '80s downtown scene. Rosanna Arquette stars as Roberta, who turns to the pe... read more read more...rsonals for vicarious thrills after her four-year marriage to staid hot tub salesman Gary (Mark Blum) grows stale. Her favorite classified ads trace the romance of Jim (Robert Joy), a struggling musician, and Susan (Madonna), a SoHo vamp who's just narrowly escaped being murdered alongside one of her other boyfriends -- a gangster who recently stole some Egyptian jewelry. Through a series of complicated missteps, Roberta ends up losing her memory and convincing both herself and a broodingly handsome young man named Dez (Aiden Quinn) that she's the elusive, adventurous Susan. Soon, Roberta finds herself being romanced by Dez and pursued separately by her husband, Jim, Susan, and by a murderous mobster who's looking for the stolen jewels. For her second feature outing, which was partially inspired by Jacques Rivette's Celine and Julie Go Boating, director Susan Seidelman filled her cast with hipster extras, downtown personalities, and New York thespians. Notable faces include comedian Steven Wright; future indie mainstay John Turturro; future TV stars Michael Badalucco and Laurie Metcalf; punk singer Richard Hell, who also starred in Seidelman's Smithereens; and performance artist Ann Magnunson, who would star in the director's Making Mr. Right. The big dance-club sequence was filmed at Danceteria, the disco that helped launch Madonna's career. The scene, and the film, helped propel "Into the Groove," one of the singer's all-time club classics, into the charts even though it was actually a b-side to the single "Angel." ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

55% liked it

29,806 ratings

Critics

87% liked it

23 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Susan Seidelmun

Release Date: January 1, 1985

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DVD Release Date: June 13, 2000

Stats: 848 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (848)

  • romy861
    March 19, 2012
    romy861
    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 becau... read morese 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.
  • FrizzDrop
    December 12, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    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 du... read morellest 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.
  • hunterjt13
    August 30, 2011
    hunterjt13
    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. ... read moreAfter 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, Desperately Seeking Susan, a title that makes me want to defend adverbs, is a film-by-numbers cliche, but there are a few minor redeeming qualities.
  • ajv2688
    January 19, 2011
    ajv2688
    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.
  • superclerk25
    April 5, 2010
    superclerk25
    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 m... read morey 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.
  • TheMachinist
    November 26, 2008
    TheMachinist
    "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 acti... read moreng 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..
  • Deano78
    September 6, 2008
    Deano78
    An ok film starring Madonna as she takes on a new life after having amnesia.
  • hobster1
    July 8, 2008
    hobster1
    Once upon a time, Madonna was perfectly cast in a movie.
  • deano
    October 7, 2007
    deano
    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 A... read morerquette. A very good, fun little movie.
  • thmtsang
    July 15, 2007
    thmtsang
    80s flick full of adventure. Love Madonna, love the music.

View All Desperately Seeking Susan Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
May 23, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

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

Dave Kehr
May 23, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

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

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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

May 23, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

Emanuel Levy
June 20, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

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

January 26, 2006
Time Out

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 ... Full Review

Steve Crum
June 8, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Offbeat Susan Seidelman comedy features funny Madonna and Arquette.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 26, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

This has to be the most overrated movie of 1985.

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

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

Bob Bloom
November 3, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Oddball fun.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Desperately Seeking Susan Trivia

  • In the movie Desperately Seeking Susan, what is on the back of Susan's jacket?  Answer »
  • In Desperately Seeking Susan, which rock star does Susan claim her jacket used to belong to?  Answer »
  • Which famous singer acted alongside Susanna Arquette in Desperately Seeking Susan?  Answer »
  • Which singer starred in the fims "Desperately Seeking Susan"??  Answer »
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