Big Fat Liar

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Big Fat Liar

Big Fat Liar film poster
Directed by Shawn Levy
Produced by Brian Robbins
Written by Dan Schneider
Brian Robbins
Starring Frankie Muniz
Paul Giamatti
Amanda Bynes
Music by Christophe Beck
Douglas Romayne Stevens (source music)
John Williams (Universal logo only, theatrical version)
Jerry Goldsmith (Universal logo only, video version)
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) 8 February 2002 (USA)
Running time 88 min.
Language English
Budget US$15,000,000
IMDb profile

Big Fat Liar is a 2002 film directed by Shawn Levy.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Jason Shephard, a fourteen year old boy residing in the fictional town of Greenbury, Michigan, was known as a liar by his friends and family. Little did Jason know that this would lead him on one of the biggest adventures of his life when his English teacher Ms. Caldwell assigns her class a creative writing essay. Having not done it, Jason lies by telling a tale that his father choked on one of his mother's Swedish meatballs that he so very loves. He was in the hospital ER all night and was unable to complete the assignment. Skeptical to Jason's story, he tells Ms. Caldwell to call his father's office. Instead, Jason gives the number of 555-0147, Jason's cell phone number. Jason has classmate Kaylee act as Mr. Shepherd's receptionist. Jason, in a raspy voice, tells the Swedish meatball tale, to which Ms. Caldwell tells Jason to take his time with the assignment. The lie comes back to haunt him when his parents are called into school for an after-class meeting to confront Jason's fib. As it turns out, that assignment was worth a third of his semester grade, and without it, would have to retake the course in summer school. However, Ms. Caldwell tells Jason that if he can hand her a handwritten essay at the community college by 6:00, she will consider counting it. After writing a story entitled "Big Fat Liar", Jason has only moments to get to the college, a problem after having been robbed of his skateboard by bully Brett. Jason uses his sister Jamie's old girlie bike as a last resort. Jason had not seen an upcoming crosswalk because he was more concerned about the people teasing him. As a result, he has a collision with a limo. After being confronted by the driver, he asks if he can get a ride to the college. After being denied a ride by Hollywood film producer Marty Wolf, who was riding in the limo, Jason tells Marty that his neck feels stiff, and could sue for whiplash. Marty reluctantly agrees, though as Jason enters the limo, he spills the contents of his backpack. While riding, Jason expresses his dislike for the movies Wolf has produced. Jason exits the limo and thanks the men for the ride. Upon his entering the classroom, he realized that he did not have the essay. Neither his parents nor his teacher believe him when he says he wrote the essay. Meanwhile in the limo, Marty begins to read Jason's essay and drives off. After a day at summer school, Jason and Kaylee go to the movies, and to Jason's astonishment, the teaser trailer for a film entitled "Big Fat Liar" debutes. When asked by Kaylee if he wants to see it, he replies, "See it? I think I wrote it."

Jason's parents had left town for a few days, leaving their son with sister Jamie, who leaves shortly with her boyfriend. Jason sees an opportunity to prove his story true: he and Kaylee use Jason's allowance money to fly to Los Angeles. After being denied entry to Wolf's office by his receptionist, Astrid, Jason and Kaylee prank-phone call her, saying her Saturn is parked on a dog. Being an avid dog lover, Astrid leaves her post to attend to the dog. Kaylee fills in Astrid's job while Jason sneaks upstairs to have a little chit-chat with the producer. Wolf returns the essay, but "mistakenly" lights it on fire with a match used to light his cigar. Wolf then tries to put it out with vodka, only to make matters worse. Wolf then calls Rocco Monroe, head of security, and has Jason ejected from the property after refusing to leave. Jason makes it a priority to make Wolf's life miserable, so that he will admit to having stole "BFL". Some of these "pranks" include adding blue-colored dye to his pool so his skin is turned blue; replacing his shampoo with orange dye; putting superglue on his cell phone headset; and rigging the controls on Wolf's Jaguar XKR to perform different functions than specified (such as the horn going off when the brakes are pushed). Jason discovers that all of Wolf's coworkers despise him in some form, including his assistant, Monty. They all then devise a plan to keep Marty from making an appointment with Marcus Duncan, the President of the studio. Should Marty not make this meeting, he would be fired and "BFL" would be terminated. Marty falls on several traps activated by them, chases after Jason, and eventually admits to stealing Jason's story and that he won't tell the truth, thinking he is in confidence with Jason, while under video survelliance. Duncan becomes outraged on Marty for stealing Jason's story, and fires him. Jason's parents who then came to Los Angeles find out about the truth and embrace Jason with their trust earned by him. Knowing that Marty Wolf Pictures has gone bankrupt, "BFL" was still produced, with Jason's involvement and the cast and crew of everyone that was involved in the plan to fire Marty. Meanwhile Marty becomes a clown.

[edit] Reaction

The film received mixed reviews, getting a "Rotten" rating at Rotten Tomatoes of 44%. [1] Some critics praised the film for its energy and wit, others wrote of its dullness and formulaic plot. Nevertheless, the film grossed 47 million at the box office.

[edit] Characters

Jason Shephard is habitual liar at first, Jason is a 14-year-old [a running gag in the movie is people thinking he's a different age] who is the main character. He traveled to Los Angeles to get Marty Wolf to tell his dad he wrote "Big Fat Liar". He does so, with the help of many co-workers who despised Wolf and his dad embraced him, and he became credited for writing the story in the film.

Marty Wolf is a sleazy and tempestuous Hollywood producer and a skilled liar. He is mean and inconsiderate and this is why all his former employees turned against him, wanting revenge. He ends up being a clown.

Kaylee is the best friend of Jason who is often talked into things by him.

Monty Kirkham is Wolf's assistant. Despising Wolf, she decided to turn against him. She does so and ends up being the screenwriter and producer of "BFL" with Jason's involvement.

Frank Jackson is a limo driver, who lost his stardom because of Wolf. Along with other co-workers, he turned against Wolf, and happily ends up being the main star of "BFL" with Jason's involvement.

[edit] Trivia

  • The Universal Studios Hollywood theme park includes a section of their studio tour with the effect of water rushing towards the spectators. This is the same place shown in the scene where Marty Wolf is washed down by the same effect.
  • There are several references to Psycho (1960 film). Such as when they use some of the same shots used in the famous shower scene where Marty Wolf takes a shower. Also, Marty Wolf's secutary is standing by Norman Bates's house in one scene.
  • The two main characters' last names seem to be taken from Aesop's fable involving The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This is because the boy was a shepherd, who wasn't believed when the real wolf came along to eat the sheep, just as Jason, a persistent liar, wasn't believed when he said Wolf stole his English paper.
  • When Marty gets out of the blue pool, his Speedos should also be blue, but they aren't.
  • The pre-production poster is different from the box art, as Marty is blue on the box.
  • When Marty Wolf was jumping into his now-dyed pool, he turns blue right before he hits the water.
  • This movie was edited for TV, including editing out words like "Saturn", "Coke", "crap", "hell", "Twinkies", "up yours", and pixellating name brand vodkas in Wolf's office.
  • In the room with all the movie props where Jason and Kaylee go you can see the Grinch from the film How The Grinch Stole Christmas there is his costume.
  • There are multiple references to Jurassic Park in the film; When Jason and Kaylee take the Universal tour, the music playing is "Journey to the Island" from the Jurassic Park soundtrack. Inside the prop storage room, there are various shots with the animatronic male raptor from Jurassic Park /// and an animatronic raptor from The Lost World: Jurassic Park in the background, and finally, a wooden sign has "Isla Nublar" (the island from the first Jurassic Park) written on it and can be seen briefly in the chase sequence
  • The set that Jason and Kaylee walk through while on the studio lot is the set used for The Scorpion King. Memnon's statue can be seen in the background at one point.
  • In the the big chase scene where Marty Wolf was chasing Jason and Kaylee, you can see a dancing lobster from The Amanda Show, which is Amanda Bynes' television show debut.

[edit] Cast


[edit] Taglines

  • The truth is never overrated.
  • Two friends are about to cut one Hollywood big shot down to size.


[edit] External links

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