The Big Bounce Review
by Rose 'Bams' Cooper (bams AT 3blackchicks DOT com)February 9th, 2004
'3BlackChicks Review...'
THE BIG BOUNCE (2004)
Rated PG-13; running time 90 excruciating minutes
Studio: Warner Bros
Genre: Is there a "Stoopitity" genre yet?
Seen at: Eastwood Neighborhood Cinema Group (Lansing, Michigan) Official site: http://thebigbounce.warnerbros.com/
IMDB site: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315824/combined Writer: Sebastian Gutierrez (based on a novel by Elmore Leonard) Director: George Armitage
Cast: Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman, Sara Foster, Charlie Sheen, Vinnie Jones, Gary Sinise, Bebe Neuwirth
Review Copyright Rose Cooper, 2004
Review URL:
http://www.3blackchicks.com/2004reviews/bamsbigbounce.html
And to think, I started out worrying about whether Morgan Freeman's character here would be reduced to being the Magical Negro again. Shoulda spent my time frettin' about him being in a butt-dumb movie, instead.
THE STORY (WARNING: **spoilers contained below**)
Well, I'm sure Elmore Leonard's original novel had a story. THE BIG BOUNCE - the movie - didn't bother. To be fair, it was set in Hawaii. And there was something or another about coconut niggers. And oh yeah, there was some Hawaiian surfing going on. And Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman, Sara Foster, Charlie Sheen, and George Armitage got a free Hawaiian vacation out of it. Ok, seriously, there was some silly pretense at a con game, set in Hawaii, with freestyle cutesy standing in for writing, and aimless meandering taking the place of directing. And near the end, there was a limp attempt at a Plot Twist. But really dude, did you catch those kewl waves?
THE UPSHOT
Oh my sweet lord, that was painful. I honestly shed a tear for Morgan Freeman...until I remembered he and the rest of the cast got a free trip to Hawaii out of it. Hell, if someone offered to pay me to sit around and toss out a few random lines - without any care whether they or the story made any sense at all (or could keep the audience awake), then Bammer's gettin' leid, you betcha.
Never have so many been paid so much to give so little. No one got out of this one alive. Schtick stood in for witty dialogue; acting gave way to mere presence on screen. The only directing that seemed to be done was pointing the airplane towards Hawaii. And writing? Who needs writing when you can just make it up as you go along? Improv's fine, guys - on a comedy stage. Next time, warn the audience. We thought we came to see an interesting movie.
Bitchin' waves though, dude.
BAMMER'S BOTTOM LINE
What did novelist Elmore Leonard ever do to deserve this?
THE BIG BOUNCE rating: triple redlight
Rose "Bams" Cooper
Webchick and Editor,
3BlackChicks Review
Entertainment Reviews With Flava!
Copyright Rose Cooper, 2004
EMAIL: [email protected]
http://www.3blackchicks.com/
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
