Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Rob Schneider | ... | Big Stan | |
David Carradine | ... | The Master | |
Jennifer Morrison | ... | Mindy | |
Scott Wilson | ... | Warden Gasque | |
Richard Kind | ... | Mal | |
Sally Kirkland | ... | Madame Foreman | |
M. Emmet Walsh | ... | Lew Popper | |
Henry Gibson | ... | Shorts | |
Jackson Rathbone | ... | Robbie | |
Kevin Gage | ... | Bullard | |
Bob Sapp | ... | Big Raymond | |
Brandon T. Jackson | ... | Deshawn (as Brandon Jackson) | |
Dan Haggerty | ... | Tubby | |
Richard Riehle | ... | Judge Perry | |
Marcia Wallace | ... | Alma |
The fraudulent real state agent Stan is married with his beloved Mindy and has a seven million dollar fortune. When he is arrested for fraud, he is sentenced to three years in prison and his assets are frozen by the justice. However, his crooked lawyer Lew Popper negotiates a six month freedom, and the weak Stan, who is afraid of being raped in prison, hires the specialist in martial arts The Master to teach him self-defense. Six months later, Big Stan is sent to the Oaksburgh State Penitentiary totally confident in his expertise in martial arts. He challenges the violent leaders of the gangs and defeats them, being respected by the inmates and bringing peace in the patio. However, the dirty Warden Gasque has the intention of transforming the penitentiary in a luxury resort, and uses Big Stan knowledge to improve his project, promising to release him sooner using the corrupt penal system. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Considering he's done The Animal and Deuce Bigalow 1 and 2, I wasn't expecting much from Schneider's Big Stan, especially since this is his directorial debut. I did not know much going into the theatre, except what I saw in the trailer.
Much to my surprise this turned out to be an OK waste of time, but nothing more. It's just another prison comedy, with a small twist. The incarcerated main character has 6 months to prepare for "doin' time".
It's nice to see Carradine pop up here and there parodying his other kung fu related works, and this time sending an anti-smoking message while consuming a life time supply of cigarettes. All through the movie I kept trying to remember where do I know the actress that plays Rob's wife from. Then it hit me. None other than Jennifer Morrison of House M.D.. She looked hot in this movie, but I feel she should make better choices in the future.
All in all a decent comedy, a better than expected, but shaky, direction from Schneider. This should be perfect for a weekend afternoon once it comes out on DVD.