Big Trouble

Starring: Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Stanley Tucci, Tom Sizemore, Johnny Knoxville, Dennis Farina, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Foster, Zooey Deschanel, Jack Kehler, Patrick Warburton, Heavy D, Omar Epps, Jason Lee, Sophia Vergara, Andy Richter, DJ Qualls
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
2002

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A colorful cast of characters all come into contact with each other as a mysterious suitcase with a deadly package passes hands left and right.

Review:

Tim: Barry Sonnenfeld directs a crazy, frantic paced movie. The movie moves so fast, from character to character and scene to scene that there isn't much time to breathe, let alone really focus on the film. That is actually a good thing, because it prevents you from dwelling on the film's many shortcomings. The story itself is pretty ridiculous and far-fetched, but this doesn't really dawn on you until the movie's over. During the course of the film, there's so much happening so quickly, that all you can do is hold on. Whether the film works or not barely even registers.

The cast is pretty outstanding. Tim Allen is good in the lead role, but this is really an ensemble movie, so he doesn't really stand out from anyone else. He plays the part with restraint, and mostly works. Rene Russo was good, but I wish she had more to do. She felt underutilized here. I typically really like Stanley Tucci, but I felt like he just went too over-the-top here. I wasn't a fan of his performance. Tom Sizemore and Johnny Knoxville really brought the stupidity, but they did it so well that it appeared realistic and rarely ever absurd. They brought a necessary lighthearted quality to the film. Their roles could have been awful, but they work. Dennis Farina and Jack Kehler work very well together, too. Farina has some of the film's funniest scenes.

The rest of the cast is good, too. I liked seeing Ben Foster as Allen's son. He works well, and acted nicely across from Zooey Deschanel, who gives a very, very strong performance. She had a small part, but her performance was very big. I very much liked her here. Patrcik Warburton and Janeane Garofalo were quite good as the cops. They added a good bit to the film and interacted well together. Heavy D was fine, and I really liked the addition of Omar Epps. Jason Lee was pretty funny in a smaller role, and Andy Richter at least made me laugh. The cast is huge, but they work well together. There really wasn't a weak link here, which is very rare.

I wish I could have liked the story more, but it just seemed too crazy to believe. Much of the film felt like a set up to get certain characters in certain places, just so they could interact with other characters who took their own path there. It's funny to watch, and decently entertaining, but the story is pretty weak. When you really think about what this movie is actually about, it's a bit of a letdown. The viewing experience is fun, but it ultimately doesn't mean anything. That holds the film back quite a bit. I wish this movie offered something of substance to the audience, rather than just being a pleasant distraction for 85 minutes.

While the story could have been better, it at least provides the opportunity for many of these characters to have funny conversations or scenes with each other. That was much appreciated. The film is based on a book by Dave Barry, who I find funny, so it wasn't surprising that I enjoyed the humor in this film. While the movie is clever, entertaining, and funny, it doesn't have much staying power. The movie is harmless, but it also leaves you far too soon. This is a forgettable film and a decent comedy- but I really wish it had been more.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



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