Big Business (1988)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Jim Abrahams

Writers (WGA):

Dori Pierson (written by) &
Marc Reid Rubel (written by)

Release Date:

10 June 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Mixed up at birth, two sets of twins finally meet their match.

Plot:

In the 1940s in the small town of Jupiter Hollow, two sets of identical twins are born in the same hospital on the same night...

Plot Keywords:

Twins | Big Business | Limousine | New York City | Stockholder Meeting

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Sadie Ratliff / Sadie Shelton
Lily Tomlin	...	Rose Ratliff / Rose Shelton
Fred Ward	...	Roone Dimmick
Edward Herrmann	...	Graham Sherbourne
Michele Placido	...	Fabio Alberici
Daniel Gerroll	...	Chuck
Barry Primus	...	Michael
Michael Gross	...	Dr. Jay Marshall
Deborah Rush	...	Binky Shelton
Nicolas Coster	...	Hunt Shelton
Patricia Gaul	...	Iona Ratliff
J.C. Quinn	...	Garth Ratliff
Norma MacMillan	...	Nanny Lewis
Joe Grifasi	...	Desk Clerk
John Vickery	...	Hotel Manager

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:PT | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Golden Oak Ranch - 19802 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners III

Trivia:

Jim Abrahams said he staged one of the boardroom scenes based on an experience he had when a large agency used many employees to get him to sign with them.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sadie Ratliff spills the syrup on her white jacket, the syrup stain changes throughout the scene.

Quotes:

Sadie Shelton: I don't see how is it that you, my own sister, can stuff your face and nothing happens and I subsist on 60 calories a day or else blow up like a Macy's stage float!

Movie Connections:

References Disorderlies (1987)

Soundtrack:

REILLY THEME

Terribly underrated

Terribly underrated, this little comic jewel may rank with 'Clue' and 'Noises Off!' as one of the greatest film farces ever. Repeat viewings reveal an attention to detail one wouldn't expect from a big-budget comedy of this period, and most of the jokes work very well indeed. As others have pointed out, the film resists the temptation to stereotype its characters, and the script is wonderfully quotable. If the resolution seems a little silly, well, what did you expect?

As for the performances, I know Pauline Kael said this was Midler's movie, but for my money there's no question that Lily Tomlin's the star of the show, especially as country Rose. Her delivery of such simple lines as 'Boy, are you bossy' and 'I am gonna kick yer ass' are priceless. Highly recommended; it gets funnier every time. 8.5 out of 10.