Big Trouble (2002)

The lives of several Miami denizens, from ad agents to gunrunners to street thugs to law enforcement to school-children, intersect with humorous and dangerous results.

Director:

Barry Sonnenfeld

Writers:

Dave Barry (novel), Robert Ramsey (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Stanley Tucci

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Allen	...	Eliot Arnold
Rene Russo	...	Anna Herk
Stanley Tucci	...	Arthur Herk
Tom Sizemore	...	Snake Dupree
Johnny Knoxville	...	Eddie Leadbetter
Dennis Farina	...	Henry Desalvo
Jack Kehler	...	Leonard Ferroni
Janeane Garofalo	...	Police Officer Monica Romero
Patrick Warburton	...	Police Officer Walter Kramitz
Ben Foster	...	Matt Arnold
Zooey Deschanel	...	Jenny Herk
Heavy D	...	FBI Agent Pat Greer (as Dwight 'Heavy D' Myers)
Omar Epps	...	FBI Agent Alan Seitz
Jason Lee	...	Puggy
Sofía Vergara	...	Nina

Storyline

A chain of events starts with the arrival of a mysterious suitcase in Miami. Arthur Herk, a corrupt business owner, wants to get his hands on the case. At the same time, two hit men want him whacked. Tired of his constant fixation on drinking and television, Herk's wife Anna and daughter Jenny decide to find new love interests in divorced dad Eliot Arnold and his son Matt. To add more complication, two thieves decide to steal the case and lead a Miami police team and two FBI agents on a wild goose chase that ends inside the Miami airport terminal.

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Plot Keywords:

time bomb | florida noir | toe sucking | suitcase | airport | 

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Taglines:

They have forty-five minutes to save the world. They need forty-six.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, crude humor and sex-related, material

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Big Trouble

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,545,204, 7 April 2002

Gross USA:

$7,267,307

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,493,890

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, The Jacobson Company, Sonnenfeld Josephson Worldwide Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 74 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tim Allen's character is largely based on Dave Barry.

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Goofs

The one Security Guard tells the other they will reconnoiter at 2100 hours, then pauses and says 10 o'clock. 2100 hours is actually 9 o'clock.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Puggy: God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the Earth is filled with violence because of them. You are to bring into the Ark two of all living creatures to keep them alive with you."
[eats a Frito]
Puggy: In other words, life is hard, so you'd better find someone who'll be your partner. Eliot Arnold's story is a lot like Noah's, except Eliot's story takes place in Miami.
[eats another]
Puggy: You just can't beat these when they're really fresh. Anyway, Eliot should probably tell...

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Alternate Versions

DVD includes a condensed 7 minute 49 second-long edition of the film focusing on scenes containing important plot points.

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Connections

References Die Hard (1988)

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Soundtracks

In the Air Tonight
Written and Performed by Phil Collins
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
And courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Not bad...

I've seen one user comment here already that unfairly compares Big Trouble with Snatch or Pulp Fiction, but that's really neither here nor there. Big Trouble is intended for an entirely different audience, and while it never reaches the mighty heights of the former, it does a big crap on the latter because it never takes itself too seriously. It recognises that the audience doesn't want a film as a fashion statement, but merely as a form of entertainment. The makers also recognise that they don't have the material here to entertain and inform at the same time, so they just concentrate on making the best comedy that they can. It is for this reason most of all that they succeed.

The strengths of this film are actors like Tim Allen, Jason Lee, Dennis Farina, and Tom Sizemore. I never thought I would say that about Allen, but it appears that when you give him decent material, he can actually make something out of it. Jason Lee is a pleasant surprise as the unwashed hippie who seems to just magically appear in a tree (you have to see it to believe it). Tom Sizemore, however, really steals the show as the thug who just doesn't quite seem to have the brainpower to do anything correctly.

Put simply, this is a crime caper that was intended for families who want to be able to take their pre-teen children to something with this kind of plot and not be worried about the content. Whether you agree with this marketing philosophy or not, it does allow for success of a different kind, namely that it succeeds because it is so unreal that the viewer can laugh without getting disgusted by some of the characters.

The things that detract from this comedy are some weak supporting actors. Zooey Deschanel even gives the camera the old "stunned mullet" look at times, while Patrick Warburton only seems to know one expression. Stanley Tucci can't give us anything to sympathise with his character over, and Sofia Vergara seems completely doomed to be a bit player for whatever little career she might have. The running length is a bit of a two-edged sword - on one hand, it makes sure that the film is never boring, and no scene goes on for longer than its welcome. On the other hand, possibilities for interesting subplots are often passed over.

In the end, I gave the film a seven out of ten. It's not rocket science, but if you sit back in your chair with a beer and some popcorn, preferably with some friends to share your disbelief with, it makes a good piece of entertainment that won't make you wish you could have those 85 or so minutes back. Recommended for those in a light-hearted mood.