Larger Than Life (1996)

A motivational speaker discovers that the inheritance his father left for him is in the form of an elephant.

Director:

Howard Franklin

Writers:

Roy Blount Jr. (screenplay), Pen Densham (story)

Stars:

Bill Murray, Matthew McConaughey, Jerry Adler

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Adler	...	Event Coordinator
Bill Murray	...	Jack Corcoran
Richard Alan Baker	...	Richie
Richie Allan	...	Man in Audience
Kimberly Thornton	...	Pyramid Woman
Anita Gillette	...	Mom
Maureen Mueller	...	Celeste
Jeremy Piven	...	Walter
Alex Neiwerth	...	Matthew
Alfa-Betty Olsen	...	Party Guest
Carrie Houk	...	Receptionist
Harve Presnell	...	Trowbridge Bowers
Tai	...	Vera
Earl Billings	...	Cop
Jeannine Hutchings	...	Outraged Woman

Storyline

Motivational Speaker Jack Corcoran is determined to get his career off the ground, but the biggest gigs he can get are the ones nobody wants. Then one day, he receives a telegram that his circus clown father has passed away, and has left a "huge" inheritance. When he gets there, he finds that his inheritance has come in the form of a elephant that was his father's pride and joy in circus acts. His main intention is to sell the pachyderm off. Jack must choose between loud and rude zookeeper Mo or attractive animal show owner Terry. As the two trek through the country Jack and the elephant develop a bond, and it changes his approach on life for the better.

---

Plot Keywords:

rescued by a elephant | rescued by elephant | rescued by an animal | elephant master | circus elephant | 

---

Taglines:

He's got 5 days to go coast-to-coast. (There's just one BIG problem.)

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vera was actually named Tai (born November 4, 1968), a celebrity Asian elephant best known for playing Bo Tat in the film Operation Dumbo Drop (1995), Vera in Larger than Life (1996) and Rosie in Water for Elephants (2011). Tai was owned by Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc., a privately funded organization that generates income through elephant rides, shows and events, as well as film and commercial appearances.

---

Goofs

Vera is supposed to be of breeding age. As Kirby had Vera in his act before Jack was born, based on the photos shown to Jack, and Jack being approximately 45 years old and elephants Vera's age when she started performing at around 5 to ten years old, that would make Vera 50 to 55 years of age. 50 is the maximum age an elephant would be able to breed. 70 is the life expectancy of an elephant. These are numbers based on healthy elephants not in captivity or in circuses. Vera would need to be between the ages of 20 to 30 and in good health to be considered for breeding. From the looks of the elephant in the film, Vera is actually only around 27 years old. Bill Murray was born in 1950, Tai the elephant was born in 1968. So, either there is some magical Hollywood film time travel or the writers had such a flimsy premise for a story that they figured the audience would overlook such a big discrepancy.

---

Quotes

Jack Corcoran: Okay I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is it's all downhill from here. The bad news is you're going to carry me.

---

Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Space Jam (2008)

---

Soundtracks

After You've Gone
Written by Henry Creamer and Turner Layton

User Reviews

Slow starter but worth sticking it out

I would probably have given up on this movie had it not been showing in the middle of the night against infomercials and test patterns. It takes about 30 minutes before it really gets going, when Bill Murray and Vera hit the road. Bill Murray's performance is serviceable if unspectacular; it's a rather underwritten role that could have been played by most anyone, but the low-wattage version of Murray's charm does come through from time to time. Janeane Garofalo is well-used in a small role, but Matthew McConnaughey makes the most vivid impression in truly goofy part as an insane truck driver. Except for exposition, the first quarter or so of the film is dull, but the rest makes for pleasant if low-key entertainment. The "relationship" between man and elephant is genuinely touching.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Large as Life

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,779,504, 3 November 1996

Gross USA:

$8,315,693

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,315,693

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists Pictures, Trilogy Entertainment Group, RCS

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1