Hey, nice marmot!

Rating: 9/10 (30 March 2006)

If you take the time to look through some of the more negative reviews of The Big Lebowski, you'll see that a lot of people simply don't 'get' this film. Frankly, I feel sorry for them, as they are missing out on one of the funniest, smartest films ever made. The characters are outlandish and OTT and are total losers. The Dude and Walter are definitely anti-heroes, which many people (mostly Americans I'm afraid) seem to have a major problem with. However European audiences have a great love for the lazy underdog, and the Dude is typical of such bumbling idiots as Inspector Cluseau (The Pink Panther films) and Charlie Chaplin, which may explain the film's success in the UK. It has become a cult hit amongst students, and is quoted by myself and my friends frequently! The film boasts very smart writing, and is knowingly bizarre and irreverent. The dialogue is fast-paced and witty, but slightly off-kilter, to match the overall pitch of the movie. I recommend The Big Lebowski to anyone who is a fan of the Coen Brothers' work, and other films which emphasise wit over action, such as Withnail and I and Lost in Translation.