You are here:

Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire

Name: Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire
Director: Kevin Jordan
Released: 1999
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

4.4/10

Fair

1999

Director

Kevin Jordan

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire functions as a conventional character study within the comedy-romance genre. It excels in giving meaningful roles to women and exploring various life stages, from youthful ambition to the profound grief of an elderly man. However, the film fails to significantly disrupt traditional social hierarchies. The narrative structure prioritizes individual emotional arcs and romantic fulfillment over any systemic or layered critiques of society. While the setting hints at a diverse backdrop, the character dynamics remain rooted in conventional Western interpersonal structures, limiting its progressive impact.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on heterosexual relationships between the two brothers and their mother. While it avoids using derogatory stereotypes, there is a noticeable absence of characters with non-traditional gender identities.

How does Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire portray gender?

Fair

Female characters such as Kathy, Anna, and Kathy's daughter play important roles in the story. However, the plot emphasizes traditional romantic resolutions that reinforce existing gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire?

Fair

Set in Los Angeles, the film suggests a multicultural environment. However, the main characters do not explicitly identify as non-white. The inclusion of an Italian expatriate adds ethnic variety.

How does Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story follows traditional Western storytelling focusing on personal growth and romantic fulfillment. It lacks institutional critique and portrays characters in typical social roles like accountants and postal workers.

Does Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire include disability representation?

Minimal

None of the central characters have visible or hidden disabilities in this narrative.

Present on Screen

Female characters are shown as active participants rather than mere accessories.
The film delves into various life stages, including the emotional depth of elderly grief.
The narrative avoids derogatory stereotypes regarding non-traditional gender identities.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities and non-traditional gender characters.
The narrative relies on traditional romantic resolutions that reinforce existing social hierarchies.
There is a lack of significant racial diversity or disruption of Anglo-centric norms.

Official Synopsis

Two brothers share a house in LA's Fairfax district: Tony's a feckless actor, Chris is an accountant. Both are in relationships on rocky ground. As these emotions swirl, Tony meets his US Postal Service letter carrier, a single mom named Kathy who's come to LA from Wyoming with her daughter, a budding actress. Chris meets Anna, an Italian beauty working in the States for a few months wrangling animals on movie sets. Chris also befriends Clive, an aging and crusty man whose longing for his recently-deceased wife is a portrait of true love. Can Clive's example help Chris sort out his love life, and can Tony grow up enough to see the possibilities with Kathy and her daughter?

How are these scores produced? →