A study in satire

Rating: Null/10 (16 April 2000)

The big Lebowski is perhaps one of the funniest, most intriguing and most enjoyable movies I have ever seen. It combines the genres of mystery, comedy, satire and drama by using a long, drawn out plot, full of twists and turns that keep the viewer interested. Aside from its obvious humor("Nice Marmot"), the movie is basically a satire, arranged around themes, not necessarily chronologically, although the movie is fluid (if you could follow that). The movie at first is very confusing, but after one views it once or twice, the nuances of it become apparent; for example, pay attention to what "The Dude" says first about the kidnapping. Everything that seems to be completely out of order comes together at the end. As a satire, it makes fun of the traditional romantic hero, one who goes against the common social mores of the time. The Dude is the typical American slacker, with no real dreams or ambitions except for winning the county bowling competition. This is a kind of slap in the face of those who would accuse the youth of America, and say that they will fail, just as the Big Lebowski does.
Bowling, to the Dude comes to represent a new kind of religion, a purity in an otherwise futile life. In no way does bowling give the Dude or Walter, or even Donny, a set of rules to follow, rather it does give them a sense of inner peace. Bowling is almost a zen activity to the Dude; everything melts away, all his cares and sorrows, reduced to how he'll roll that night.
The movie isn't an endorsement for drugs, sex, rock and roll, or even bowling, but it is an advertisement to stop and think about what we are all doing in our hum-drum lives.