The Dude abides.

Rating: 9/10 (2 September 2003)

Criminally under-utilized and overlooked actor Jeff Bridges shines here as 'The Dude' in this magnificent shaggy dog tale by the talented Coen brothers that improves in hilarity with every viewing. The Dude is a truly inspired creation -- as far from your standard-issue hero as you'll ever find. In fact, to be blunt, he's a lazy, drug-addled, feeble slob. But his heart is good, his instincts true, and his shuffling persistence in the pursuit of justice is a wonder to behold.
As usual, the Coens' regular supporting cast of loonies is perfection, with co-star John Goodman a standout as the John Milius-inspired Vietnam vet with a chip on his shoulder the size of Gibraltar.
The plot doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense, with many bizarre stops along the way, weird bits of business, oddball musical fantasy interludes and bursts of manic action that will most assuredly test the attention spans of the straightlaced and unimaginative. But if you loosen up and go with the flow, in the laidback manner of The Dude himself, you could find yourself having a lot of fun.