Unexplainably entertaining

Rating: 7/10 (2 July 1999)

This movie means absolutely nothing, goes absolutely nowhere; the pitch hovers somewhere around vulgar, and every character is a flake. How, then, is it so entertaining?
Jeff Bridges holds the thing together like glue. He plays the unflappable Dude -- who gets flapped aplenty -- with such wit and grace that he pulls off plenty of schtick, making this cartoon utterly believable and convincing. (Oh ho! -- he writes checks for less than a dollar! He smokes a joint and says "bummer"! He lives to bowl and yet never rolls!) The Coens were dead right to cast Bridges; any actor who misstepped would have sunk the ship.
Even still, a quarter or more of the scenes don't work, but what does is very entertaining, very funny. Probably as much foul language per frame as GOOD WILL HUNTING, but at least here it seems to make sense; the Coens don't cram it into everyone's mouths unilaterally.