Outstanding!!! Very very funny!!!

Rating: 8/10 (5 April 2001)

There are so many movies that lack in originality, and there are so many comedies that fall flat. "The Big Lebowski" is like an answer to my prayers. This is a comedy that works in ALL aspects. Sometimes you have a comedy that's funny, but the writing's terrible and the talented cast is pretty much the only asset that keeps it moving. This movie not only has a great cast, but it's wonderfully written (by those genius Coen Brothers), lavishly directed and contains a remarkable soundtrack. Each and every character has a quirky, notable personality. My favorite, though he only appeared on screen for about 5 minutes, was Jesus Quintana (played masterfully by John Turturro). He cracked me up so hard!!! And I love that scene where Jesus goes up to bowl, licks the ball for good luck and we watch in slow-motion as he hits a strike. He dances in the lane and rejoices, while we hear a Mariachi version of the famous "Hotel California" in the background. Only the Coen Brothers can make a scene work that smoothly. There are other memorable sequences, like the musical number called "Gutterballs" with Jeff Bridges being handed a pair of bowling shoes by Sadam Hussein and flying under the skirts of beautiful women. You watch a scene like that, and you wonder why this movie didn't nab an Oscar for Best Art Direction.
Ethan and Joel Coen have a great sense of originality, and that also showed in their other hilarious comedy, "Raising Arizona." I loved that movie, too. But I loved this movie twice as much. Some won't approve of its maximum dosage of "f" words, but I was laughing so hard that didn't bother me one bit. "The Big Lebowski" is one of those flicks that shows you what comedy is all about, and how to really form a good punchline with perfect timing and delivery. As a bonus, the film is packed with stunning visuals. It's such a great movie to look at. There are no cheap shots in this one. The dialogue is imaginative, yet realistic. It's not the least bit pretentious. You know, as you watch this, that this IS the way people talk. And that was also shown in "Fargo." And I liked that even though the central character was a simple-minded individual, they didn't construct him like someone out of a "Bill and Ted" movie. Jeff Bridges, who is perfectly cast, was extremely entertaining and I can say the same about John Goodman as his easily-angered friend who follows all the Jewish holidays even though he's not Jewish.
I find it a tad appalling that critics have panned this movie and called it slight and forgettable. This is more intelligent than most comedies in recent years--or any year. This is a very, very entertaining movie and if you really want to laugh--this is DEFINITELY the movie to see!!!