From: Reviews and Criticism of Vietnam War Theatrical and Television Dramas (http://www.lasalle.edu/library/vietnam/FilmIndex/home.htm) compiled by John K. McAskill, La Salle University ([email protected])
B5435 BIG FAT LIAR (USA, 2002) (Other titles: Lost and found; Lugen haben kurze Beine; Pay or play)
Credits: director, Shawn Levy ; writer, Dan Schneider ; story, Dan Schneider, Brian Robbins. Cast: Frankie Muniz, Paul Giamatti, Amanda Bynes, Amanda Detmer, Donald Faison, Sandra Oh. Summary: Comedy set in contemporary Michigan and Los Angeles. The smartest 14-year-old fibber in Michigan is paired against the dumbest thirtysomething fibber in Hollywood. Jason Shepherd (Muniz) is an eighth-grader who lies about almost everything. Then he puts his creativity into a short story titled "Big fat liar" to meet a high school assignment. Unfortunately, he loses the story in the car of sleazy movie producer Marty Wolf (Giamatti) who turns it into a hit movie. In order to avoid summer school, Jason and his best friend Kaylee (Bynes) travel to Los Angeles to squeeze the truth out of the big liar Wolf through a series of pranks and outrageous stunts. The supporting character, stunt coordinator Vince (Majors), is a Vietnam veteran helicopter pilot.
Baehr, Ted. “Big fat liar” Human events 58/7 (Feb 18, 2002), p. 14. Beifuss, John. “The fable guy; Schneider spins wolf tale into film fluff” Commercial appeal [Memphis, TN] (Feb 7, 2002), p. ? ______. “With gusto Giamatti keeps ‘Liar’ on funny trail” Commercial appeal [Memphis, TN] (Feb 7, 2002), p. ? “ ‘Big fat liar’ is good mean fun” Washington post (Feb 8, 2002), Weekend, p. WW41. Carr, Jay. “Implausible ‘Liar’ is hard to swallow” Boston globe (Feb 8, 2002), p. C9. Cave, Damien. “Big fat liar” Salon.com (Feb 8, 2002) Centeno, Dana. “Big fat liar” Teen 46/2 (Mar 2002), p. 111. Churnin, Nancy. “Actors’ energy is true in ‘Liar’” Richmond times dispatch (Feb 8, 2002), p. ? Gleiberman, Owen. “Big fat liar” Entertainment weekly no. 639 (Feb 15, 2002), p. 46. Gordon, Daphne. “ ‘Big fat liar’ wrapped in fun” Toronto star (Feb 8, 2002), Business, p. 2. Hamilton, Jill. “Big fat liar” Magill’s cinema annual Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Salem Press, 1982- (2003, p. 41-3) Holden, Stephen. “But the limousine ate my homework!” New York times (Feb 8, 2002), p. E24. Horwitz, Jane. “Family filmgoer; In 'Liar,' Frankie goes to Hollywood” Los Angeles times (Feb 7, 2002), Calendar, p. F37. Johnston, Andrew. “Big fat liar” US weekly no. 366 (Feb 18, 2002), p. 55. Kimmel, Daniel M. “ ‘Big fat liar’: a fun flick for preteens” Telegram & gazette [Worcester, MA] (Feb 8, 2002), p. C3. Koehler, Robert. “ ‘Big’ small on laughs” Variety 385 (Feb 4-10, 2002), p. 33, 39. Lemire, Christy. “At the movies: ‘Big fat liar’” Entertainment news (Feb 5, 2002), BC cycle. McFarland, Melanie. “Hard truth on ‘Liar’: Only kids will find laughs here” Seattle times (Feb 8, 2002), Ticket, p. H30. Moore, Roger. “Kids: ‘Liar’ is hip, funny - no lie” Houston chronicle (Feb 8, 2002), Houston, p. 5. Nichols, Peter M. “A 14-year-old with an idea that nobody believes is his” New York times (Feb 15, 2002), p. E15. Povse, Paul. “Kids charm viewers in ‘Liar’” State journal-register [Springfield, IL] (Feb 14, 2002), p. ? Puig, Claudia. “Slimeball vs. kid in ‘Big fat liar’” USA today (Feb 8, 2002), p. 11B. Rechtshaffen, Michael. “Movie review; ‘Big fat liar’” BPI entertainment news wire (Feb 4, 2002) Rozen, Leah. “Big fat liar” People weekly 57/6 (Feb 18, 2002), p. 32. Stuart, Jan. “Movie review; He’ll go a long way to try to get even; In the wiseacre comedy ‘Big fat liar,’ sassy Frankie Muniz plots against the Hollywood producer who stole his idea” Los Angeles times (Feb 8, 2002), Calendar, p. F6. Vancheri, Barbara. “True to form; ‘Big fat liar’ is a fine, funny family film” Pittsburgh post-gazette (Feb 8, 2002), p. 15. Wirt, John. “ ‘Big fat liar’ truly appeals to adults as well as kids” The advocate [Baton Rouge, LA] (Feb 15, 2002), p. ?
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