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A DVD Review of...
  
Images (C) Universal |
Genre: Comedy/Family
Cast: Frankie Muniz, Amanda Bynes, Paul Giamatti, Amanda Detmer, Sandra Oh
Synopsis: A 14-year-old boy named Jason Shephard lies for the fun of it. Jason loses an important story assignment entitled 'Big Fat Liar' in movie producer Marty Wolf's limo, which Wolf then turns into a film. When Jason sees a movie preview of his story, he and best friend Kaylee go to Los Angeles to make Wolf confess to using Jason's story as well as to clear Jason's name and to get him out of having to attend summer school. The teen liar then has to match wits with Wolf, who also turns out to be a big liar
Film Review: Whilst not as bad as the marketing campaign makes out, "Big Fat Liar" is still a rather annoying albeit harmless kids comedy featuring TV brats doing Nickelodeon style safe tricks to humiliate adults. Better than the unfunny and frankly dull "Clockstoppers", "Big Fat Liar" does manage to squeeze the odd laugh or two into the action mostly thanks to the great Paul Giamatti who takes his rather one-dimensional role and manages to squeeze moments of fun physical comedy out of it (though its a LONG way from his great work in the likes of "Private Parts"). The always annoying Muniz from "Malcolm in the Middle" is not as bad as one would expect but does only ok, whilst cohort Bynes has more moments of her own to shine (such as a bit where she poses as Giamatti's secretary). Still both are given that most annoying of kids traits - smarter than the various dumb adults which populate the flick.
A lot of the shooting takes place on the (no surprise) Universal studio backlot which was no doubt a cost-saver but then again the result is lots of poor kiddie-safe studio gags ala "Croc Dundee in Los Angeles". More direct attempts at Hollywood satire never really click, a subplot about a father's disappointment feels so strained its painful, and even at 88 minutes it feels at least half an hour too long. Yet the sheer lightweight material, the fact there's no forced romance between the leads, the odd laugh and the revenge fantasy elements play out well for the audience its aimed at. Safe for kids & not too boring for adults. - Garth Franklin
"Big Fat Liar"
DVD Details In Brief (Region 1)
Rating: G
Runtime: 84mins
Versions: 16:9 Enhanced Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 1.33: 1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 5.1
Language & Sub-Titles: English, Spanish, French
Commentaries: Track 1 by Actor Frankie Muniz, Track 2 by Director Shawn Levy & DOP Jonathan Brown.
Documentaries: Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
Clips & Other: Deleted Scenes, Theatrical Trailer, Universal Lot Adventure
Region 1 vs. Region 4: R4 lacks Outtakes, Biographies, Production Notes & Game Hints. R1 only in Full Screen. Standard NTSC/PAL Differences. |
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DVD Review: After a game-ridden and poorly transferred full screen US version, the local release proves a big improvement even though its a somewhat more spartan release. Gone is the sassy Amanda Bynes menu, replaced with a static simple go to function. The video is an improvement though, colours and blacks are fine and whilst grain and noise are present they're not as severe as in the full screen one. Better is the audio with clear dialogue, an intriguing use of sound FX, and a welcome (albeit too loud) mix of songs for the score. There's two commentary tracks, the first with Director Shawn Levy and Cinematographer Jonathan Brown who drop in little bits about how the film was made - the odd good laugh or anecdote but nothing too special. Muniz's second track is a bit of a bore, this kid's been raised by the Hollywood system and kisses ass with the best of them.
"Spotlight: On Location" is another of those mundane 18-minute making of pieces filled with sound bites, clips and the odd good piece of on-set footage. There's nothing particularly insightful or even interesting sadly in this full screen piece. There's "Deleted Scenes" starting off with a four-minute single shot scene where Giamatti's character gets into tense lecturing/arguing with Jaleel White (aka Urkel) and the studio boss character. Other scenes include Giamatti trying to seduce a blond starlet in his trailer, more scenes of people bitching at the premiere party, and two sequences where he bitches with a guard at the gate to Universal Studios. "Universal Studios Backlot Adventure" is as far as I can tell a rough map of the Universal Studios park showing where all the major attractions are in relation to each other. Capping it off is the film's rather flat theatrical trailer. A so-so film accompanied by a so-so disc. - Garth Franklin
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