`CREATURES' COMFORT IN LIMITED SUPPLY : ELSEWHERE ON VIDEO.

Byline: Robert Bianco Special to the Daily News

No one would expect some strange new ``Creature'' to be as welcome as ``A Fish Called Wanda.''

Those lowered expectations probably explain why so few people went to the theaters to see ``Fierce Creatures'' (1997, Universal; priced for rental), John Cleese's follow-up film to his Oscar-winning ``Wanda.'' On video, however, low expectations can be an advantage. As you'd expect, ``Creatures'' is far from a classic comedy, but anyone who rents it will be rewarded with a pleasant - and for short bursts, hilarious - evening's entertainment.

More reunion than sequel, ``Fierce Creatures'' takes the four main stars of ``Wanda'' - Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin and Kevin Kline (who won an Oscar for ``Wanda'') - and gives them all new characters to play. Watching ``Wanda'' is not a prerequisite, but familiarity with the first film will help you understand a few of the jokes, and affection for it will help get you through some of the slow patches in ``Creatures.''

This time around, Cleese (who also co-wrote the screenplay) stars as the newly installed director of a small English zoo, owned by Rupert Murdoch-like media king Rod McCain (Kline). Ordered to make the zoo more profitable, the director decides the zoo will only house ``fierce creatures,'' the better to attract a blood-hungry public. Naturally, his plan runs into roadblocks, most of them supplied by the zoo's verbose bug-keeper (fellow former Monty Pythonite Palin, in a witty twist on his tongue-tied ``Wanda'' character); McCain's sexy new marketing director (Curtis); and McCain's idiot son (Kline again).

For brief moments, ``Creatures'' is as funny as any video you're likely to rent this year. Unfortunately, the moments don't sustain themselves, and the film bumps along to its grand finale in perceptible fits and starts.

In part, the lack of cohesion is due to a test-audience ordained new ending. (You can spot the remnants of the discarded first ending in the oddly truncated story line about an amorous ape.) Even with a more organic ending, however, the film would still lack the drive and sexual energy of ``Wanda.'' The spirit is willing, but some of the flesh has gotten weaker - though definitely not Curtis', who may look even better now than she did a decade ago.

For some people, that may be reason enough to rent ``Creatures.'' Whatever your reason, try teaming it with one of these other Cleese classics - some done alone, and some done with his fellow alumni from ``Monty Python's Flying Circus.''

A Fish Called Wanda: (1988, MGM; $14.95): One of the nice things about video is that you don't have to choose between the superior original and the spiritual sequel. If you go to the right store, you can rent them both.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: (1975, Columbia TriStar; $19.95): This very funny, and often very bloody take on the Arthurian legend is probably the best sustained and most inspired of the ``Python'' spoofs. If you let your children watch it, be prepared to listen to ``Holy Grail'' routines for the next few months, and possibly years.

And Now for Something Completely Different: (1972, Columbia TriStar; $19.95): Like most compilation films, this collection of skits from the old ``Flying Circus'' TV show is somewhat hit and miss. The difference is ``Python's'' misses are funnier than most people's hits.

Fawlty Towers: (1977, Fox; $19.98): Cleese stars as an overbearing hotel manager in a show that ranks with the top sitcoms ever made. If you're only choosing one, look for the tape that includes the visit from the hotel inspectors.

Time Bandits: (1981, Paramount; $14.95): Cleese makes a guest appearance in this often wonderful fantasy, written by ``Python'' alumni Palin and Terry Gilliam and directed by Gilliam. A good film that could have been a family classic, had they only found a less sour - and more child-appropriate - ending.

Chinese action star Jackie Chan made another move toward crossover acceptance with ``First Strike'' (1996, New Line; priced for rental) - his first film, the video box tells us, in which he ``fights for America.'' Maybe that's why the crime rate is dropping.

Anthony Edwards of ``ER'' tries a mold-breaking role in ``In Cold Blood'' (1997, Cabin Fever; $69.98), a miniseries remake of the Truman Capote book. Though he and co-star Eric Roberts acquit themselves well, the new version lacks the compact tension of the original.

Right before ``Thelma and Louise'' was released, Brad Pitt took second billing to TV star Rick Schroder in ``Across the Tracks'' (1989, MPI; priced for rental), a drama about fraternal track rivals. You know, that Pitt kid was pretty good. I wonder what happened to him?

Fans of Chris Farley will be happy to hear that his latest comedy, ``Beverly Hills Ninja'' (1996, Columbia TriStar; priced for rental), arrives on video this week. The only thing the rest of us can do is move out of the way.

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Photo: ``Fierce Creatures,'' with John Cleese, may be far from a classic comedy, but anyone who rents it will be rewarded with pleasant - and sometimes hilarious - entertainment.