Big Fat Liar (2002)

Dir: Shawn Levy

Country: USA

Runtime: 103 min
Language: English
Cast: Frankie Muniz (Jason Shepherd), Paul Giamatti (Marty Wolf), Amanda Bynes (Kaylee)

Review © 2002 Branislav L. Slantchev

A well-intentioned, if occasionally funless, comedy that's most certainly strictly kids only. Jason (played by that little dude from that little show on Fox) is an accomplished liar, which lands him in hot water from time to time. One day, after getting busted for the umpteenth time -- which shows that he's not such a good liar after all -- he has a little home assignment to write if he is to avoid summer school. On his way to deliver it, he runs into the Big Bad Wolf (Paul Giamatti), a big-shot talentless Hollywood producer, who steals his paper to make a film of it. Thoroughly despondent (in a very non-teenage but politically correct fashion) about his parents not trusting him anymore, Jason decides to regain their trust by, get this, running off to Hollywood! That's right, folks. You better trust your kids or next thing you know they'll be flying off to Lala land before you can say "Grounded!"

Jason and his best friend Kaylee (Amanda Bynes, who, by the way, runs circles around the media-fave Frankie) make their way into the Mecca of movie-making otherwise known as the tourist tour of Universal (yeah, you can see most of these things during the tour of Universal Studios, so this was nothing but shameless commercialism right here). They play some pranks on Marty, and finally get him to admit that he stole the script, ruining his career of a bastard forever. The teary parents renounce their ways, embrace the kids, and promise to believe them always. Roll credits, get money back.

If it weren't so utterly stupid, Big Far Liar would have been quite offensive. I know of no parents who will pat their runaway kid on his back. At least not nicely, and probably about 60 centimeters down from the neck. I also resented the blatant "lying is overrated, truth is good" thingie. I won't be teaching my kids to be always honest and come what may. Truth, by itself, is worthless, like any statement of fact. It's what you do (or don't do) with it that matters.

February 19, 2002