Review - The Big Lebowski (1998)

         Hey guys, Chuck here, and I was scrolling through of my social media pages, and I realized something. Today is the Day of the Dude, which is a big deal. So, in the spirit of commemoration, let's take a look at the 1998 comedy classic from brothers Joel and Ethan Cohen: The Big Lebowski starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, David Huttleston, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tara Reid, Peter Stormare, Sam Elliott, John Turturro, and Jon Polito. 

       The movie is set in Los Angeles, and it centers on Jeff Lebowski, who prefers to be called "The Dude." So, after a grocery run, the Dude comes home to be attacked by two thugs working for noted adult entertainment producer Jackie Treehorn, calling the Dude "Lebowski," and demanding the money "his wife" owes to Jackie Treehorn. Unfortunately, there was a mix up, as they were meant to go after a different Jeffrey Lebowski, who is a millionaire living in a massive estate with his trophy wife Bunny. Oops. So, the thugs, one of whom took a whizz on the Dude's rug, take their leave, and the Dude contemplates what happened. 

      It's at the bowling alley where we meet the Dude's two friends: Walter and Donnie. Walter gives the Dude the idea to meet with the other Jeffrey Lebowski, aka the Big Lebowski, and ask for him to help replace the rug that Teeehorn's men peed on. It doesn't go well, as the Big Lebowski just rants and raves, calling the Dude a bum and telling him to "get a job." Ultimately, the Dude takes one of the rugs, and he meets Bunny, who is lounging around in a bikini. 

       So, the Dude tries his best to get things back to normal, but an incident involving Walter pulling a gun against a fellow bowler for going over the foul line, and a call from the Big Lebowski's aide Brandt in regards to a message left behind after Bunny's disappearance, leads the Dude to have to help the Big Lebowski get his wife back. Unfortunately, the rug that the Big Lebowski let the Dude take gets taken by a mysterious woman and two thugs of her own. And, after a stint at the bowling alley where we meet Jesus Quintana, the Dude's car is stolen, with a case full of money that was meant for Bunny's "kidnappers" but Walter swapped for a "ringer," and the woman who took the rug calls the Dude to meet him. She reveals herself as Maude Lebowski, daughter of the Big Lebowski. 

      Maude feels that the Bunny kidnapping is false, and the money taken out was wrongfully done so, as the money was for a charity foundation that helped children. Yikes. Anyway, we also learn that the "kidnappers" were actually friends of Bunny, and they're German nihilists. Yeesh. Oh, and the rug Maude reclaimed was one she has a sentimental attachment to, as it was her mother's. As time goes on, the Dude gets his car back, and he and Walter found the kid who took it, a dimwit teen named Larry. The Dude is then taken to meet Jackie Treehorn himself, and things go sideways pretty quickly. The Dude returns home to find Maude, and the two end up having sex, as a means for Maude to have a baby without the father being in the child's life. And, it turns out that Bunny wasn't kidnapped, the ransom money was kept by the Big Lebowski, and everyone from the Dude to the nihilists were all played for saps. 

        After a bit of bowling, the Nihilists demand money, and a fight ensues between the Dude, Walter, Donnie, and the Nihilists. The Nihilists run away, and Donnie suffers a heart attack and dies in the excitement. Walter and the Dude have Donnie cremated and spread his ashes into the Pacific. And then the Dude and Walter go bowling, where the Dude meets with a cowboy, and tells him "The Dude abides," ending the movie. 

        Okay, this movie is pretty basic, with mild jokes and a light sense of humor. However, what elevates the movie is the witticisms of the main character, the Dude. Jeff Bridges makes the Dude, well, the Dude. If it were another actor, the movie wouldn't have been the same. 

      The rest of the cast, especially John Goodman and Julianne Moore, are fantastic. Hell, Tara Reid is pretty much just eye candy, but she does a good job as well. The writing by Joel and Ethan Cohen is easily a highlight, with a very simple and subtle sense of timing and humor. The brilliance is in letting the situations play out and all of it be seen from the perspective of the Dude. 

      Honestly, this is one of those movies that is a lot of fun, and definitely a favorite of both myself and my dad. So, I'm giving The Big Lebowski a 5/5. Mix up the Dude's favorite cocktail (a White Russian), kick back, enjoy the movie and remember this: the Dude abides. 

       This is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys on Wednesday with my review of Power Rangers Dino Fury.