Big
Fat Liar is one of those films that few adults with an IQ over 70 would go out
to the theatrical release, save to appease the youngsters in their lives. It's
also a film that many a parent will be doomed to watch repeatedly out of the corner
of eyes and ears as it hits video and DVD release. Happily the film features the
always enjoyable Paul Giamatti, who although way-over-the-top here, keeps the
proceedings watchable for the adults.
BFL
is a movie within a movie, that pits Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle) as
a likable and clever "everykid," whose homework assignment falls into
the hands of a dastardly Hollywood Producer Marty Wolf who purloins the story
and sets about turning it into a Hollywood blockbuster. In order to set a matter
of integrity straight with his Father it becomes necessary for Muniz to fly to
Hollywood and convince Giamatti to call his father and admit that he indeed made
off with the missing homework assignment.
Let's
just say that plausibility is not present during any part of this movie, a fact
that makes it possible for his gal pal Amanda Bynes to accompany him on their
secret mission to Tinsel Town. A mission that includes outwitting the nefarious
Wolf, stealing his palm-pilot, dying his skin blue, his hair orange and completely
confounding his entire Studio. Which becomes necessary after Wolf proves unwilling
to come clean about the plagiarized movie plot.
First
and foremost this is a movie for kids and, for those young enough not to be bothered
by gaping lapses of reality and logistics, they'll eat it up. It's a real kid-empowerment
flick (with the obligitory respect for parental authority) this is about good
kids kickin' butt on bad adults. Again thanks to Muniz' universal appeal and Giamatti's
villanous turn there's enough stuff to keep an adult from going insane.
For
her part Amanda Bynes has a few nice moments, and there is also a fun turn by
Donald Faison of Scrubs fame, who plays an embittered limo driver who help the
kids foil the big bad wolf. Lee Majors even pops up as a stunt man who figures
into the grand finale.
If
you are younger than 13 years old this will be a movie you will treasure for years
and watch repeatedly and never get sick of. If you are an adult, well . . . it
could've been a lot worse. Strangely it didn't pencil out at the box-office -
but it performed well as a rental and amazingly enough, so far no sequel.
