'Big Trouble' interesting
Any film that begins with Jason Lee mixing prophecy and corn chips is worthy of attention. In the case of “Big Trouble,” the interest should hold.
Tim Allen stars as Eliot Arnold, a former Miami Herald columnist who opens an ad agency as a result of a poorly placed foot and a messy divorce. The big trouble starts with his son Matt (Ben Foster) has to “kill” classmate Jenny Herk (Zooey Deschanel) with a super soaker. Unfortunately, some would-be bad guys (Dennis Farina and Jack Kehler) are out to kill Jenny’s father Arthur (Stanley Tucci) a little more permanently.
The combination assassination attempt gone afoul leads to a comical yet predictable plot involving a mysterious suitcase, Geo Metro, psychedelic toad, imbecile kidnappers and Martha Stewart hallucinations.
The film is by no means deep and insightful, but it’s good for a few laughs. The main problem is the severe underdevelopment of characters and their relationships, particularly those of Eliot and Arnold’s wife Anna (Rene Russo), who apparently fall in love although no one can really tell why. Allen and Russo are supposed to be the lead actors in this film, but one could argue the star is really Jason Lee who portrays Puggy, a tree dweller with a Fritos fascination who ends up spending part of the film in the trunk of a car.
The acting kudos in this film belong to Lee, Heavy D as FBI agent Alan Seitz and DJ Qualls as Matt’s goofy friend Andrew. The point that such minor players as Heavy D and Qualls made more of an impression than the so-called lead actors reasons that a film with such an ensemble cast needed stronger talent.
Directed by Barry Sonnefeld, known for “Get Shorty” and “Men In Black,” “Big Trouble” tends to mimic Guy Ritchie’s “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch” for the first half of the film with its quick camera angles and interweaved narrative. The second half drops those devices, which disrupts the continuity of the film.
Those familiar with comedic writer Dave Barry are in for a treat, as the film is based on the novel written by Barry and plays out like a 90-minute humor column. Allen’s character is clearly modeled after Barry, although Barry is far wittier than his fictional counterpart.
Delayed from its original release date because of Sept. 11, maybe “Big Trouble” isn’t quite the right name for this film. Yeah, there’s a nuclear bomb loose in Miami, but total obliteration seems about as likely as this film garnishing any best acting nominations.
LIFE Guest Writer Jamie Lynn Gilbert is this week’s winner of the Be a Critic! Movie Review Contest.
