In the parlance of our times...

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2002)

I haven't stopped watching this movie since I first saw it about 2 months ago. I guess by reading some of the other user comments that this is the kind of movie that you either love or hate - and I love it!
The story is fantastic. The running theme isn't particularly complex but it doesn't need to be. It puts the incredibly laid-back Dude in a series of outrageous situations that no stoner should ever be exposed to! I guess the funniest thing about the movie is that I know a guy who could be evenly compared with the dude and I suppose I'm not the only one - haven't most of us known (or been) a lazy stoner at some point? The story is perpetually fuelled with a line of eccentric characters, all quite different from the dude in personality and lifestyle. The Dude's interactions with them in his quest to obtain a replacement rug are hilarious (especially with the Malibu Chief of Police!!).
Julianne Moore is fantastic as the artist/feminist millionaire. The line she delivers to Dude while Bunny's porn film is running is a classic: "The story is ludicrous" she says with disdain, viewing the porn flick with her critical eye (post-irony at its best!).
I did think that the inclusion of Sam Elliot was a needless one. Essentially the story didn't require the 'insight' of a narrative and although I appreciate the comic value of his inclusion, perhaps he might have been better utilised on another project?
Essentially, and I think this is the case with more than one of the Coen Brother's films, is that the dialogue is excellent - it is nearly always the way the lines are delivered that makes the scenes so funny, not the actual lines themselves. This is true for many different characters in this movie, from the Big Lebowski himself to the Chief of Malibu Police (who's scene with the Dude is comedy genius).
Anyway, I can't knock it - I love the movie, "His Dudeness" is one of the funniest/best characters I have ever seen and I cannot recommend this movie enough...particularly if you're a middle aged, jobless stoner...I'm not, by the way...middle aged that is!