Review of The Big Bounce (2004) by Mark M — 10 Feb 2009

"The Big Bounce" is a movie that doesn't make you think; it makes you laugh. The thing about Elmore Leonard's novel-turned-movies ("Get Shorty," "Out of Sight," and now "The Big Bounce") all have one thing in common; they all have a way of showing a crime caper without making you have to think. Plus, who would want to think when the beautiful Sara Foster blows up the screen with her beauty and sass.

I read a review that says that this movie is a waste of talent from the ensemble cast in this movie (Charlie Sheen, Morgan Freeman, Gary Sinise, Sara Foster, Vinnie Jones, and Owen Wilson). I watched this movie with that statement in mind, and I came out with the conclusion that these actors didn't do this movie because they needed the money or because they wanted to get an Oscar nomination. They did this movie to have fun, which, judging by the chemistry shown on screen, they did have a lot of.

Owen Wilson plays Jack Ryan, an ex-con who would like to get his life back on track, but always to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing. The starts off with Jack getting into a fight with his boss?s minion, Lou Harris (Vinnie Jones). The scene ends in an excruciatingly painful - yet somehow hilarious - bat to the face. The district judge, Walter Crewes (Morgan Freeman), sees a tape of the fight and decides that he might be a hard worker, so he hires Jack to be the maintenance man at his bungalow/hotel. Then, as Jack his starting to get his life back on track, he meets his ex-boss?s, Ray Ritchie (Gary Sinise) ?young thing,? Nancy Hayes (Sara Foster), and is immediately seduced by her.

Shortly after meeting, Nancy convinces Jack to perform a heist for her; she asks him to rip off her Ritchie for $250,000. He agrees to do it, proving once again that men will do anything for a hot woman in a thin bikini, and the planning begins. Then, Ray?s other minion comes into play, Bob Jr. (Charlie Sheen). It doesn?t take long for the plot to twist into a comedic tale of crime, deceit, seduction, and, of course, sex.

I left this movie thinking, ?Hey, that was pretty good! It was not what I expected.? The thing is that I read the book right before the movie. I was so disappointed that I was reluctant about seeing this. But, I thought, ?Hey, I owe it to myself to see this. I read that stupid book, now let?s see the stupid movie!? The thing that made me mad about the book is that it ended like Elmore Leonard missed his deadline and decided to just publish it the way it is, unfinished. There was really no ending. It was like the publishing company made a mistake and forgot to copy the last couple of chapters. The movie, though it keeps part of the basic plot, doesn?t stay true to the novel. I would like to say [color=darkorange]personally to Sebastian Gutierr[/color][color=darkorange]ez[/color], the screenwriter ?Thank you for that!?

Final Consesus - 3/4 or B :up: