Date Released: 02/08/02
Rated: PG (for some consideration of language)
Film Length: 88 Minutes
Produced by: Michael Tollin, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Cast: Frankie Muniz, Amanda Bynes, Paul Giamatti, Donald Faison Distributor: Universal Pictures
Frank's film tip: Listen up 'cause I'm going to tell you a wild fib: I embraced the monotonous and flimsy family comedy "Big Fat Liar"
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One can say that "Big Fat Liar" tells the truth in the sense that this kiddie comedy wants to winks its way into the heart of mischievous adolescents everywhere. And who wouldn't find this tiresome and overly cute comedy appealing? After all, it features the immensely likable and talented tyke Frankie Muniz (from television's "Malcolm in the Middle") and the exuberant presence of his charming co-star Amanda Bynes (from TV's "All That" and "The Amanda Show"). But with two high-spirited young leads and all the fun-oriented ribaldry that one can muster up in 80-plus minutes of silly mayhem, why does "Big Fat Liar" still feel like a flat, manufactured merry-go-round where the audience is taken for an aimless, unfullfilling ride? Sure, the realization is such that most moviegoers (particularly the targeted demographic that this movie caters to) won't mind the innocuous zaniness of this mediocre-driven family comedy.
Director Shawn Levy, a noted presence in the world of children television--mainly Nickelodeon-related fare, has the feel for helming kid-related flicks that exaggerate the impish tendencies of youths. This is especially pronounced because Levy pits the cynicism of his pubescent players against the mean-spirited world of conniving grown-ups. This is always a reliable premise I suppose but Levy never emphasizes this built-in predicament beyond showcasing the same ol' routine ruses that only provides an added annoyance to this type of genre. Plus, "Big Fat Liar" becomes so distractingly callous in its self-promotion of placement products that the subtlety is comparable to that of a sledgehammer ramming into a head of cabbage.
Jason Shepard (Muniz) is a Michigan-based teen who fancies himself a slick storyteller. Rather than cut to the chase and tell what really happened as far as the truth is concerned, Jason would prefer making up some elaborate excuses and colorful lies in an effort to cover his tracks. The cohort who supports his exaggerations is his pretty best friend Kaylee (Bynes). And so the dynamic duo of Jason and Kaylee are destined to pull pranks on an unforgiving world but don't blame them entirely...they will be forced to defend themselves--and rightfully so!
Jason is put to the test of utilizing his imagination when his teacher demands a writing assignment out of him by the early evening. And so the smooth-talking youngster heads home and toils over his homework paper until he comes up with an impeccable story entitled BIG FAT LIAR. Jason just knows he's going to land that elusive grade of "A" so he rushes back to school so he can meet his deadline of turning in his written work. Along the way he bumps into a hotshot slimy Hollywood honcho named Marty Wolf (Paul Giamatti) who's in town to shoot on location. Marty gives Jason a ride to school in his fancy limosine. Soon Jason exits the vehicle and inadvertently leaves behind his school paper with Marty. As a result of this blunder, Jason finds himself in the rigors of summer school...drats! Jason insists that he did his assignment and explained the circumstances that existed for the reason why his paper was missing in the first place. But because of his past excuse-making shananigans, Jason has to pay the price for telling the truth. And yes, the obvious moral to the movie is simplistic and blunt: Jason should have never been the boy who cried (Marty) Wolf...get it!
In the meanwhile, the lowdown opportunist Marty Wolf applies his tainted TinselTown touch to Jason's paper and turns the kid's story BIG FAT LIAR into a major Hollywood production. In an effort to save face, regain his respectability, and claim back his schoolwork-inspired property, Jason sets out for Hollywood along with his galpal Kaylee to track down Marty and get him to admit to the illegal practice of stealing his creative juices. And as naturally expected, Marty ignores the persistent pair of pesky adolescents with pompous indifference. Determined to make life miserable for the sly and ill-mannered Wolf, Jason and Kaylee decide to engage in what amounts to be the movie's gimmicky copycat "Home Alone" mode where Marty plays the wretched rat to the scorned teenagers' rollicking contraptions.
"Big Fat Liar" is plausible when Jason is presented as a roguish under-acheiver with a natural ability once he realizes his potential for greatness. And there could be something said for his "easy-way-out" persona in the way he avoids reality via his defense mechanism for telling fantasy-based fables. But Levy never lets the film craddle some of these free-wheeling psychological angles. Instead, he opts for conjuring up another repetitive comedy kiddie caper that flaps around with the conviction of a one-winged bumble bee. The sight gags are hopelessly smirky and lame (watching Giamatti's Marty Wolf walk around with blue skin as a payback stunt by the kids does manage to crack a reluctant smile but not much more than that) and the revenge factor of the juvenile storyline has all the intrigue of a Romper Room rerun.
Screenwriters Brian Robbins (who has experience steering some of his own indigestible kiddie vehicles such as "Good Burger") and Dan Schneider serve up a choppy script that for the most part has all the carefree whimsy of a defective whoppie cushion. Robbins and Schneider, former child actors from the yesteryear ABC-TV sitcom "Head of the Class", patches together a misguided romp that clumsily welcomes the insanity of kiddie angst. The problem, however, is that the material isn't solid enough to support the intentioned satire of adolescent-adult relations. "Big Fat Liar" is just futile silliness looking to tap into the kiddie sensibilities. The film won't even challenge the audience it wants to draw; its only interest appears to be hawking the enticing surroundings of a Universal Studios tour. And why not add some complexity to Jason by exploring his feelings for his "best pal" Kaylee? You mean to tell me that a babe such as Kaylee hasn't registered on Jason's hormonal scale? Gee, is the guy dense or what? He can be passionate about missing schoolwork but not about his curvy school chum Kaylee? Jason my man...get with the program, son!
Overall, "Big Fat Liar" is a mild, misplaced light-hearted fare that could have been more intrusively clever in its entirety. The ubiquitous Muniz is fine as the determined protagonist out to rescue his English paper-turned-exceptional-screenplay project. But his character could have benefited from more depth other than being just another rascal out to tame some misbehavin' adults. Giamatti plays the villainous movie producer with an even-handedness that's both refreshingly devious and campy yet annoyingly over-the-top.
In essence, "Big Fat Liar" sluggishly tells a ridiculously tall tale of tepidness.
Frank rates this film: ** stars (out of 4 stars)