The Big Bounce Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)January 30th, 2004
"The Big Bounce"
Jack Ryan (Owen Wilson) is a drifter specializing in petty theft and breaking and entry who has transported himself to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands to try to start a new life. But, the devil-may-care loner can't not get himself into trouble and he goes bat-to-jaw with the tough foreman (Vinnie Jones) of big shot contractor Ray Ritchie (Gary Sinise), losing his construction job. He is "requested" to get off of the island by Ray's henchman, Bob Jr. (Charlie Sheen), but is diverted by Judge Walter Crewes (Morgan Freeman) who takes an unusual interest in the vagabond in "The Big Bounce."
Pulp crime writer Elmore Leonard has had a pretty good track record of successful adaptations of his novels, such as "Get Shorty," "Out of Sight" and "Jackie Brown." "The Big Bounce" brings this positive streak to an abrupt end in a confused, senseless story that is actually a remake of a 1969 adaptation of the author's novel, starring Ryan O'Neil. The overwhelming question I have with the new release is: Why bother?
Owen Wilson is always a likable bloke whether it be in a drama as a downed fighter pilot in "Behind Enemy Lines" or the Old West surfer dude in the "Shanghai Noon" franchise. He is one of the few positive notes in "The Big Bounce," a film that lacks both story and direction as it meanders towards its mediocre conclusion. Jack, supposedly trying to make a new life, comes to Hawaii to give it a go in the legit world. He soon eschews the bull**** of the "normal" life, loses his job and once again reverts to his petty crime ways to bring in a few bucks. During one of his B&Es he notices Ritchie's pretty, young mistress, Nancy (Sara Foster), and is immediately smitten with the free spirited young woman.
Jack takes on the job as caretaker for the Judge Walter's dozen tourist bungalows but can't get Nancy out of is mind. When she proposes a scam to rip Ray off of $200,000 in mob bribe money, Jack gives his patented "I'll check it out" response. But, this is a pseudo-caper flick and, of course, Jack will go for the bait of a big paycheck and, hopefully, get the girl.
Without more than a fleeting familiarity with Leonard's original work it is a little hard to place the blame for "The Big Bounce" on any one set of shoulders. I have to hazard the guess that it is a cluster foul up that starts with the original material and continues with the adaptation by Sebastian Guttierez. The result is an incoherent mishmash of episodes that never congeals into a complete story.
I guess the "caper" of "The Big Bounce" is the theft of the 200 grand that Ray Ritchie keeps on hand to pay off the mob controlled unions in order to build his environmentally unconscionable luxury hotel on the pristine Hawaiian island. Ray is not so polite to his latest fling, Nancy, while his wife Alison (Bebe Neuwirth) is away, and the blonde bombshell recruits Jack to scam Ray out of the $200K. A sense of better judgment struggles in Jack's head when he realizes that he is a mere pawn in everyone else's plan, including Nancy and Walter.
But, the caper angle is not well defined and there is little to keep you interested as the multithreaded story unfolds. "The Big Bounce" represents the waste of a lot of acting talent. Owen Wilson fares OK and his Jack is a charismatic character. But, the likes of such veterans as Morgan Freeman, Gary Sinise, Bebe Neuwirth and Willie Nelson given little more than cameo roles indicates that this is, at best, sloppy filmmaking. Newcomer Sara Foster, as the pivotal character Nancy, gives an affected and unconvincing perf, although she does look fine in a bikini. Watch for a brief appearance by the great Harry Dean Stanton.
Director George Armitage does not make any points as "The Big Bounce" meanders along with its uninvolving story. My reaction, as the film struggles to its end, was to wish it to just be over. This is not a good thing for a comedy/caper film. I give it a C-.
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.
