Big Fat Liar

Rating:
Summary: Fun, if over-the-top, comic fantasy
Review: "Big Fat Liar" offers a lively contemporary spin on the Boy Who Cried Wolf legend. Jason Shepherd is a 14-year-old inveterate liar who spends most of his time devising elaborate yarns to keep himself out of trouble with his parents and teachers. One day, through an amazing fluke, he meets up with a nefarious movie producer named Marty Wolf who steals Shepherd's story idea - a composition he wrote for his English class entitled "Big Fat Liar" - and proceeds to make a movie out of it. When Jason's parents refuse to believe their son's outlandish tale, the youngster heads out to Hollywood to confront Wolf and make him verify his story. When Wolf refuses to do this, Jason concocts an elaborate scheme to make Wolf's life a living hell until he relents and helps make things right back home.

Kids will love "Big Fat Liar" for the simple reason that it works as pure adolescent fantasy wish-fulfillment on several levels. First, it shows a youngster getting the rare opportunity of turning a major studio backlot into his own personal playground (the film sometimes feels like a 90-minute commercial for Universal Studios' behind-the-scenes tour). Second, it feeds the desire we all have to watch the tables being turned on a certified rascal. And, third, like any good fantasy for children, it puts the kids in a position of power over the adult world. Jason and his pretty cohort, Kaylee, get to call the shots and pull the strings that eventually get the grownups to pay attention and listen to them.

"Big Fat Liar" might actually have been a better film had it resisted the tendency to overdo so much of its comedy. In fact, the best parts of the film occur near the beginning when Jason and his adventures stay connected to the real world. Once he gets to Hollywood, the film loses a bit of its edge. The cleverness and wit of the film's opening stretches give way to overwrought plot mechanics and over-the-top slapstick. The film has a great deal of undeniable energy, but subtlety can be a virtue as well and we miss that sense of sly fun that defines the film's ambiance early on.

Still, "Big Fat Liar" has more to recommend it than the average teen comedy. First of all, it stars the marvelous Frankie Muniz ("Malcolm in the Middle") who has energy and charm to spare in the role of Jason and who literally keeps the film bouncing along even when the comic setups don't always pay off as well as they should. Muniz is one child actor I will miss when he grows too old to still play these parts. Amanda Byrnes is equally likable as Jason's conspiratorial companion, Kaylee. And even though Paul Giamatti seems to be doing a Jim Carrey impersonation through large sections of the film, this fine comic actor hits heights of magnificent manic madness as the put-upon, hissable villain of the piece. The movie also has a fun time ribbing many of the elements of Hollywood culture - from the unemployed "actors" working as chauffeurs to the has-beens looking for that big career turnabout to the insipid material that often serves as the basis for big studio productions (a movie about a cop teamed up with a crime-fighting chicken is the example here).

"Big Fat Liar" provides mixed blessings for the sophisticated adult audience, but youngsters should enjoy it all.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST SEE MOVIE THE BEST OF THE YEAR!
Review: After seeing Big Fat Lair over the weekend I really liked it. It was really funny and was a great comedy. Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes were great in the movie. The movie is about how a huge producer steals Jason's ( Frankies) story. Now he and his friend Kylee( Amanda) go to L.A. to stop him. If you go to see any movie it should be this movie. It's great for the whole family. There is a little language but not that much. I saw it with my mom and she even liked it. So go and see it. It will make you laugh until you can't anymore.

Rating:
Summary: Fun, Cool, and Enjoyable!
Review: At first, my impression on "Big Fat Liar" was that is was just a family flick that only I would like; but then I saw it with my dad. I was very surprised by how it was very funny and very entertaining. Even my dad enjoyed it, and he was really laughing!

The story is very original and clever, and it's similar to the Boy Who Cried Wolf. Jason Shepard (TV's Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz) is a liar, straight off the bat. He lies constainly about everything, espeacialy with the whole homework excuse "My dog ate it" or "My dad is in the hospital (sniff)". But this time, to pass the eigth grade, he has to turn in an essay, and this assignment was stolen...for real. While trying to get to class, he is acidentally run over (don't worry, parents. The scene is put on a cartoonish note) by a big-shot movie producer, Marty Wolf (Paul Giamatti), who has been known to be a huge jerk to people. Marty offers Jason a ride to school. While the trip, Jason tell Marty about his paper homework due, title "Big Fat Liar", a story about a compulsive liar, who gets bigger each time he lies. While being dropped off, Jason forgets his paper and Marty takes it. A few months later, Jason and his best friend, Kaylee (Nickelodeon's Amanda Bynes) go to the movies and see a trailer for a movie called "Big Fat Liar", which immediately makes Jason furious. While Jason's parents are gone on vacation fo the summer, Jason and Kaylee take a trip to Los Angeles to find Wolf and get down to business. Along the way, they befriend a actor-turned-limo driver, named Frank (Donald Adeosun Faison) and Marty's partner at the studio, Monty Kirkham (Amanda Detmer). While Jason and Kaylee find shelter at Universal Studio's Prop shop, Jason Persues in finding Marty and getting either revenge or an appology. During a rude encounter with Marty, Jason decides Vengence...all the way. He and Kaylee form together all the people Wolf has been mean to and plot a payback to ge Marty out of business, for good.

One thing I liked about this movie was how it took place at Universal Studios Hollywood 75% of the time, aside from the obious (Monty, in one scene, is walking and talking on her cell phone in front of the Bates Motel House) there is the scene in the prop shop, were the kids shack up, where pieces of recent Universal films, such as "The Grinch", are left laying around, along with the DeLorean from "Back to the Future" shown everywhere and the constant showing of the Universal Backlot Tour trams driving by (I love how in one scene, Jason and Kaylee leap off a tram to see something: keep in mind that you could never do that in real life!). BIG FAT LIAR is a great family film, but better for kids.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly very good!
Review: At first, my impression on "Big Fat Liar" was that is was nothing more than dumb, Nickelodeon kid-flick; but then I saw it. I was very surprised by how it was very funny and very entertaining. I'm a big Universal Studios fan, and this movie had A LOT of Universal stuff in it, including the imfamous backlot tour and the prop shop.

The story is very famlish, never the less, clever. Jason Shepard (TV's Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz) is a liar, straight off the bat. He lies constainly about everything, espeacialy with the whole homework excuse "My dog ate it" or "My dad is in the hospital (sniff)". But this time, his assignment was stolen...for real. While trying to get to class, he is acidentally run over (don't worry, parents. The scene is put on a cartoonish note) by a big-shot movie producer, Marty Wolf (Paul Giamatti), who has been known to be a huge jerk to people. Marty offers Jason a ride to school. While the trip, Jason tell Marty about his paper homework due, title "Big Fat Liar", a story about a compulsive liar, who gets bigger each time he lies. While being dropped off, Jason forgets his paper and Marty takes it. A few months later, Jason and his best friend, Kaylee (Nickelodeon's Amanda Byrnes) go to the movies and see a trailer for a movie called "Big Fat Liar", which immediately makes Jason furious. While Jason's parents are gone on vacation fo the summer, Jason and Kaylee take a trip to Los Angeles to find Wolf and get down to business. Along the way, they befriend a actor-turned-limo driver, named Frank (Donald Adeosun Faison) and Marty's partner at the studio, Monty Kirkham (Amanda Detmer). While Jason and Kaylee find shelter at Universal Studio's Prop shop, Jason Persues in finding Marty and getting either revenge or an appology. During a rude encounter with Marty, Jason decides Vengence...all the way. He and Kaylee form together all the people Wolf has been mean to and plot a payback to ge Marty out of Business,for good.

One thing I liked about this movie was how it took place at Universal Studios Hollywood 75% of the time, aside from the obious (Monty, in one scene, is walking and talking on her cell phone in front of the Bates Motel House) there is the scene in the prop shop, were the kids shack up, where pieces of recent Universal films, such as "The Grinch", are left laying around, along with the DeLorean from "Back to the Future" shown everywhere and the constant showing of the Universal Backlot Tour trams driving by (I love how in one scene, Jason and Kaylee leap off a tram to see something: keep in mind that you could never do that in real life!). BIG FAT LIAR is a great family film, but better for kids. And it's the thing Universal fans, like me, been waiting for.

Rating:
Summary: Slapstick humor in the "Home Alone" tradition
Review: BIG FAT LIAR is a family oriented slapstick comedy which is written by Dan Schneider and Brian Robbins (Robbins also Co-produced); perhaps best known to audiences as Dennis and Eric from the 1980s sitcom HEAD OF THE CLASS.
MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE star Frankie Muniz plays Jason Shepard, a 14 year old perpetual liar who is caught out when fibbing about doing a school English assignment. He is given the ultimatum of writing the paper or being sent to summer school. So Frankie starts writing a fact-based story titled BIG FAT LIAR (clever). He completes the task and heads off to school to hand it in.
However while biking to school he is struck by a limo; whose passenger happens to be Marty Wolfe (Paul Giamatti) a famed Hollywood producer.
To make amends, Wolfe offers to give Jason a ride to school... but on arriving Jason discovers he's left his assignment behind. Of course when Jason tells his teacher the story, she doesn't believe him and she calls a meeting with his parents. So to prove to his parents that this time he's really telling the truth Jason must try and get his paper back from Wolfe.
But Wolfe has other plans, like turning Jason's paper into a major film (which he steals all credit for). A pretty smart move for a guy currently making a movie starring Jaleel "Urkel" White as a cop with a chicken for a partner. Sure-fire blockbuster material.
So in order to get his script back Jason and his friend Kaylee (Amanda Bynes) fly to L.A to try and let the truth be known. But Wolfe, nice guy that he is; sets fire to Jason's script. Is that the end? No. Because as even the most dimwitted Hollywood types know, you always make a back-up copy.
So Jason and Kaylee have no option left but to play dirty. With the help of downtrodden film industry employees who've been burned by Wolfe one time too many; they set out to teach him a lesson once and for all. Which means loads of clumsy slapstick humor, which will really appeal to the kids.
Adults will enjoy seeing the PSYCHO house and other setpieces from movie classics on display here. Some of it's funny, some of it's feeble, but you could do far worse.
DVD Extras include commentary by the director and Muniz, location doco, deleted scenes, trailer and a pretty tacky "tour" of the Universal Studios lot with scenes from the film. Lee Majors; formerly TV's Six Million Dollar Man, also has a glorified cameo appearance.

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Film For All....
Review: Big Fat Liar is a movie that is highly recommended. Universal has done an excellent job of bringing an amazing cast together to tell a really good story. The movie is about Jason Shepherd (played by Frankie Muniz), who is a compulsive liar and happens to have his short story stolen by Hollywood producer Mary Wolf (played by Paul Giamatti). As a result of the stolen story, Jason must attend summer school. Jason soon sees that Marty is going to be making the story into a movie. In a well conceived plan, Jason and his best friend Kaylee (played by Amanda Bynes) head out to Hollywood to confront Marty. Jason only wanted a simple phone call to his father to show that he was telling the truth. Marty doesn't agree to it and in turn has Jason escorted out by security. A bit upset, Jason decides that payback is a must. Over the course of a weekend Jason and Kaylee have it out with Marty by conducting various retaliations, including making him look like a Smurf. (The other retaliations are also quite hilarious.) Eventually Marty and Jason square off on the rooftop of a movie set and this is where everybody gets to see the kind of person Marty truly is. The film ends on a high note where Jason gets his revenge...and a little bit more. The film is one that anyone can enjoy, and with cameos by Lee Majors, Dustin Diamond and even Jaleel White, laughs are guaranteed. Even the bonus features make this disc a treat. There is a trivia challenge featuring other Universal films, deleted scenes which are pretty good, a behind the scenes feature, an "Are You A Big Fat Liar" quiz, and Amanda Bynes even gets to help you navigate through the menus! Lastly, the two commentaries are a nice add-on. One features the director Shawn Levy with the other one by Frankie Muniz. Overall, I highly recommend this film. Frankie and Amanda make an excellent team, and in picking up this film you are guaranteed to have some big fat fun.

Rating:
Summary: A must see
Review: Big fat liar is a must see movie. It is a family movie and one of the best movies I have ever seen. If I were going to pick a movie I would not pick Harry Potter, Josie and the Pussycats,ect.ect. Bring the whole family and have a nice & relaxing time at the movies.

Rating:
Summary: Great Family Film
Review: Big Fat Liar is a wonderful family film. It takes a short time to get into the "real" action of the film so younger film goers may have a hard time sitting still in the beginning, but once the movie gets going, it keeps you laughing and waiting to see what happens next. I took my 6 year old son to see it and we both loved it. The cameos by all of the actors I grew up with only added to the enjoyment. And, it teaches the lessen that honesty is always best.

Rating:
Summary: two thumbs up!! FUNNNY
Review: Big Fat Liar is ver, very good. It's pure funny. To taught a big fat liar a lesson, our main character had a lot of different punishments. He is smart, cool and the king of liar. Not only did he taught others a lesson but also taught himself. At the end he regain his father's trust. Nice Ha.

Rating:
Summary: You are a BIG FAT LIAR!
Review: BIG FAT LIAR looks like a great family comedy! Frankie Muniz stars as a kid in junior high school who makes a film and then a big Hollywood producer buys the film and turns it into a hit movie. But then, the producer doesn't credit Muniz's character in the finished product and gives himself all the credit! To prove that the producer is a "big fat liar", the kid and his fellow classmate/friend (Amanda Bynes) hit Hollywood to confront him about it...and they'll do whatever it takes!

I've seen the trailer for this movie a bunch of times and it looks cool. It is rated 'PG' (for mild-language and general audiences), but that doesn't mean that it's only for kids! Mainly, though, I have to say that I want to see this movie because Frankie Muniz is in it. He's a wonderful, talented young actor and if you don't believe me then just watch Fox's hit Emmy-winning comedy, "Malcolm In The Middle"! Frankie has been nominated twice for Best Actor at the Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards! Amanda Bynes is also a talented actress, and I enjoy watching her show, "The Amanda Show", on Nickelodeon.

BIG FAT LIAR looks like the best family comedy of 2002. So when it opens Feburary 18th, then this is definitely a movie you've gotta see!