‘Big Bully’ A Big Bore
In the famous words of Jo Anne Worley, the laughing lady of “Laugh In,” “BOR-RING.” You might expect a high-concept comedy starring Tom Arnold to be interestingly awful, but “Big Bully” is just dull and numbingly formulaic, with some mildly humorous moments. The script plays itself out with little more humor or imagination than its barest outline: A bully and his victim grow up, but end up teaching at the same school and continuing the battle.
“Big Bully” begins with a promising, nostalgic “Stand by Me” quality. Famous writer David Leary, played by Rick Moranis, recalls his grade-school torments at the hands of the monstrous Roscoe Bigger, against an early 1970s backdrop of Evel Knievel toys and moon rocks. But the charms diminish as the movie flashes forward to today, when Moranis is older but still easily pushed around, the Mr. Nice Guy role on which Moranis seems to be staking his career. He has been asked back to his Minnesota school to teach writing, and guess who’s teaching shop … Arnold plays Bigger, also known as Fang, as a timid man who comes back to life as he begins to pull new pranks on Moranis. The twist in the movie is that Moranis’ son is a citified bully who loves to torment Arnold’s bookish, wimpy son.
It’s all a set up for a “Deliverance”styled confrontation between the two men in the forest, which contains no visual or stunt wit, and finally a scene when the reconciled sons can preach brotherly love to their warring dads. Since the small town is Mayberry-like, casting Don Knotts as the school principal was a clever notion, but Knotts the result is disappointing.
Carol Kane is amusing as Arnold’s bullyish wife, but she’s in only two or three scenes. The same goes for Jeffrey Tambor from “The Larry Sanders Show,” who evokes a few giggles as Moranis’ extremely nosy and know-it-all neighbor. Julianne Phillips is on hand as the sexy sex-ed teacher who, conveniently, is both single and a major fan of Moranis’ novel. In the movie’s oddest attempt at humor - a touch of “Twin Peaks” in Mayberry? - one of Moranis’ townie pals is a pyromaniac who becomes a fireman.
Ultimately, however, “Big Bully” is a predictable comedy that doesn’t add up to much more than a mediocre episode of “The Wonder Years.”
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: “Big Bully” Location: Lincoln Heights, Lyons and Showboat cinemas Credits: Directed by Steve Miner; starring Tom Arnold, Rick Moranis, Julianne Phillips, Carol Kane, Don Knotts Running time: 1:37 Rating: PG