Big Bully

I like this film. Not that the plot, acting, script, etc. would worry any kind of awards ceremony on a bad year because they are pretty awful. It's just that the film is watchable at 2am when you need to be bored to sleep by a sappy American movie. That's all I can say about it.

The plot is so transparent and formulaic that a five-year-old could have told you the ending, and has more holes than fine lace. The acting is notably bad on all counts. When the established leads get upstaged by an unknown 10 year-old you have to worry. Rick Moranis plays his usual weedy character and Tom Arnold plays his childhood bully. Not challenging parts and this shows; they aren't even trying.

I, like many others, was bullied at school and found the story interesting in that it showed both sides but the cheezy(TM) subplot involving their children was forced and let down the one saving grace.

All in all, I give this film 2/5. Watchable but certainly not worth missing anything else for.

An elementary school nerd, plagued by insecurity and the need to fit in, lives in a nightmare at the hands of a big, fearsome bully. Nearly twenty years later he's moved on with his life, has a son, and has made a name for himself as a successful writer. He returns home as a local celebrity to join the teaching staff, but once again encounters his old childhood nemesis who's bent on repeating the same torment despite their advanced ages. Not as bad as it sounds, featuring two likable, enthusiastic leads who provide some occasional laughs, but the frequent dedication to juvenile slapstick grows tiresome after a while. Fans of the actors may not mind. **

This movie is nicely done, and Tom Arnold is this really nice and lovable character who (even though he's a bully) you like a lot. A fun movie to watch anytime! Rick Moranis also plays a great character and proves once again he's a great actor.

Big Bully is probably more suited to the small screen than the big screen. Some of the dialogue Tom Arnold spouts out is quite funny. Rick Moranis does an acceptable job in the lead role, even though it seems he's been playing wimpy characters for his whole film career.

The showdown is a little heavy handed (eg. Arnold firing a nail gun at Moranis), but was obviously thrown in to keep the movie from getting too dull.

If it's on TV late at night, watch it...and then go to bed.

Rating: **

This movie is wonderfully done, and the story is one for the whole family. Another classic from my childhood that still holds up today, and makes me laugh out loud. The characters are genuine and full of heart. It's a family friendly film about how bullying is bad. And although people might have their differences, they could still become friends in the end.

Rick Moranis and Tom Arnold star together as David Leary, and Roscoe "Fang" Bigger. One bullies the other, once as children, and again as an adult. The two actors play off each other very well, and its message about friendship is quite endearing.

It's worth a watch....