Big Fat Liar
Jason Shepherd (Muniz) is coasting through school telling elaborate lies to get out of working, when he is finally caught out by his teacher and threatened with summer school unless he delivers an original story on time. Backed in to a corner he produces "Big Fat Liar", but on the way to deliver it has an accident with a Limo owned by big-time movie producer Marty Wolf (Giamatti), and in the....
Jason Shepherd (Muniz) is coasting through school telling elaborate lies to get out of working, when he is finally caught out by his teacher and threatened with summer school unless he delivers an original story on time. Backed in to a corner he produces "Big Fat Liar", but on the way to deliver it has an accident with a Limo owned by big-time movie producer Marty Wolf (Giamatti), and in the rush leaves his story in the limo and is therefore condemned to a summer of study. Later when he realises that Wolf's latest movie will be entitled "Big Fat Liar", using his story as the basis, he decides to travel to LA with Kaylee (Bynes) to retrieve his story which will convince his doubting parents that he really did write the assignment.
This film is a light-hearted family comedy with plenty of entertaining segments, whilst it’s nothing particularly original in the genre (David vs Goliath, Goliath gets dyed blue), it’s handled very well. Muniz is entertaining as the continuously thwarted Jason, but it’s Paul Giamatti that steals the show as the outrageous megalomaniac Marty Wolf. Subjected to a series of ridiculing pranks, you watch with delight as Marty descends in to insanity. Stand out scene is his assault by numerous kids at a birthday party, but he really keeps the film moving. There are some really funny scenes in this movie, which keeps you entertained throughout.
The film is presented in widescreen anamorphic, and the colourful movie is well presented, although the image never really challenges the format. Sound-wise we get a choice of dolby digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1, which is odd on a film like this as there is little to test either, so both are clear and engaging without ever wowing you. There are two commentaries, first with the director and cinematographer covers aspects of the film-making process. The second commentary track features Frankie Muniz and is more concerned with on-set antics and such is pretty funny. The Spotlight on location is a so-so behind the scenes featurette with interviews, a few anecdotes etc. at 13 minutes it’s probably long enough though.
15 minutes of Deleted scenes include alternate and extended scenes as well as some cut ones, and show some entertaining larking-about by Paul Giamatti. The Trivia Challenge asks you easy questions and then treats you to a short gag real, and an interactive studio map shows you the layout of the Universal lot and jumps to the relevant part of the film. Add to this a trailer and you have a decent package for a relatively small film.
I really enjoyed this movie, and although the DVD doesn’t really have anything that will make you come back to the extras, it’s a fun family film worth a few viewings.
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