Rent The Big Lebowski (1998)

Rambling - The Big Lebowski review by JD

Jeff Bridges has the central character who is very cool and pretty lazy. His reaction to his friend John Goodman who is unhinged and aggressive is chaotic and often funny. The plot goes round and ties itself in a knot without being that interesting. I liked the general feel of it but not the plot. It is not really an 18, brief nudity and moderate violence. There are 2 moments of greatness one by a bowling competitor you may recognise from Men in black I and the other from the third quieter bowler.

Brilliant Cult Comedy - The Big Lebowski review by GI

Like a lot of the Coen Brothers films this plays havoc with genre convention in this case the classical detective thriller and makes absurd the figure of the American screen hero. This hilarious, very clever comedy was released to some bafflement but has since become a much revered cult film and it's one of those films that actually gets richer and funnier each time you watch it. It's littered with film homages many of them playful and subversive but even if that doesn't interest you this remains a great comedy film with a career best performance from Jeff Bridges and a riotous one from John Goodman. Bridges plays a dope smoking drop out affectionally known as 'The Dude' who, along with his friends Walter (Goodman) and Donnie (Steve Buscemi) loves bowling. A case of mistaken identity sees the Dude caught in a chain of hilarious events involving a rich millionaire and his kidnapped trophy wife and weird daughter (Julianne Moore) and a whole cast of strange characters. In part this is an irreverent pastiche of Raymond Chandler's classic crime novel The Big Sleep, it's liberally addled with quotable lines and despite threats, assault and trying to control the Vietnam obsessed Walter The Dude just wants to bowl. This is a film to just go along with, it has a convoluted plot, or so it seems, but it all unravels very clearly and with some laugh out loud comedy. A great film and definitely one you should check out if you haven't seen it.

Not worth bothering - The Big Lebowski review by Maureen

It starts with someone being assaulted in his home then there's a so called dialogue with 90% the f word. We turned it off and found something better, which wasn't difficult. There are lots of good films so why bother with the poor ones?. Others obviously agree.

George Roby.

The big bore - The Big Lebowski review by cr

Like other reviewers i had heard that this coen brothers film is a cult comedy classic.

I watched it years ago and wasnt impressed but thought i would try it again.

Comedy is subjective but i struggled again with this.

My problem is its not funny. There are a couple of mildly amusing moments but thats it. It confuses shouted repetitive lines for wit and its sadly lacking wit.

For example they say the word "dude" about 100 times and john goodmans character tells steve buscemi's character to shut up about 50 times.

If your a fan of jeff b then you may like it but it left me cold.