Film Review #035 - Big Fat Liar (2002)

Introduction and Context:

"Big Fat Liar" (2002), directed by Shawn Levy, is a comedy film that humorously delves into the world of Hollywood. The film stars Frankie Muniz as Jason Shepherd and Amanda Bynes as Kaylie, two teenagers involved in a quest to reclaim Jason’s stolen story idea. Distributed by Universal Pictures, the production budget of this film was $15 million and grossed $53 million at the box office. Not based on a true story, the film cleverly explores themes of honesty and integrity within the film industry.

Plot and Obstacles:

The story revolves around Jason, a habitual liar, whose essay is stolen by a sleazy movie producer, Marty Wolf, to be turned into a film. Jason, with Kaylie’s help, embarks on a mission to prove the story’s authorship, facing challenges and creating elaborate plans to expose Wolf's deceit.

Acting:

Frankie Muniz (Jason Shepherd) and Amanda Bynes (Kaylie), who were teenagers at the time, delivered commendable performances in the movie. Muniz, portraying Jason, skillfully depicts a mastermind character. Even though Jason makes mistakes, his plans and goals are usually fulfilled in the movie. One particularly impressive thing was the complexity of both Muniz and Bynes roles that effectively engage in 'acting within acting.' This means that while they played their roles in the movie, they also showed their characters being deceptive in some scenes, which made their performances more complex, yet engaging to the viewers. I found it very impressive.

Martin "Marty" Wolf, played by Paul Giamatti, is an intriguingly complex character in the film that has a mix of Jim Carrey’s comedic style and Heath Ledger's portrayal of Joker. He was played as an antagonist in the movie. Hence, his manipulative and immoral tactics are central to his role in the film, adding depth and conflict to the storyline.

Another thing I noticed in the movie was the stunts that were performed. I found them realistic and surprisingly with great timing.

Humor and Engagement:

"Big Fat Liar" is a comedy that maintains engagement through its well-written script and realistic stunts. Standout point was the character of Marty Wolf. It was rich in his character development and added to the film's humor. A memorable scene involving a car, reminiscent of "Monsters Inc.," adds a historical comedic twist.

Cinematography:

The film's cinematography is smooth and effective. It effectively captured actors' facial expressions and emotions with precision. It includes varied camera shots like the ‘goat eye’ type, dutch tilts, and a blend of close-ups and medium shots, reminiscent of Scorsese's style in "Taxi Driver" and "GoodFellas.”

Music and Sound Design:

The soundtrack and music by Christophe Beck was exceptional. It fitted various moods throughout the film. It enhanced each scene with appropriate tones, which made the overall experience much better.

Desire for Expanded Storyline:

I wanted the movie to be a bit longer because I felt like I was missing some details in the movie. For example, I wanted to know behind the scenes in the movie how those 2 teenagers prepared the plan and the whole procedure of it and how they got into the directors house.

Overall Impression and Rating:

So, did I enjoy the movie? Yes, I did! "Big Fat Liar" is a rare cinematic gem that offers a blend of comedy, clever plotting, great cinematography and a peek into Hollywood’s machinations. My rating for the film is a solid 9/10, reflecting its enjoyable storyline and excellent execution.

Rating: 9/10