Big Fat Liar |  | Directors: Penelope Spheeris, Shawn Levy
Actors: Travis Tedford, Bug Hall, Brittany Ashton Holmes, Frankie Muniz, Amanda Bynes
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.98
Buy New: $19.05
as of 3/21/2010 20:21 EDT details
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Rating:  92 reviews
Sales Rank: 304404
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 171 Minutes
ISBN: 0783298978
UPC: 025192400629
EAN: 9780783298979
ASIN: B0000BV21K
Theatrical Release Date: February 8, 2002
Release Date: December 2, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Pitting kids against grown-ups has always been a reliable source of comedy, and Big Fat Liar indulges the "smart kid vs. dumb adult" fantasy with infectious enthusiasm. In this case it's Frankie Muniz from TV's Malcolm in the Middle, playing a Michigan eighth-grader whose penchant for lying results in parental scorn when he claims that a Hollywood movie mogul (ace character actor Paul Giamatti) has stolen the kid's hastily written English essay and turned it into his upcoming summer blockbuster. The kid only wants to prove his honesty and recruits his girlfriend (spunky TV star Amanda Bynes) to beat the honcho on his Hollywood turf. Elaborate practical jokes and slapstick gags turn this kid stuff (scripted and produced by two former child stars) into an enjoyable send-up of Hollywood absurdity. When combined with Giamatti's mastery of slow-burning megalomania, the show-biz in-jokes and Home Alone-style anarchy make this a harmless diversion for the young and young-at-heart. --Jeff Shannon
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 92
 If I'm hatin', I'm lyin'... January 25, 2010
Andrew Ellington (Mulholland Drive)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As far as kids movies are concerned, there are few better than this one. I'm not usually one to gush over these kinds of movies, but this one keeps me entertained (sure, in a cheesy kind of way) each and every time I watch it. Each gag, each joke, each scene is just fun and exciting.
Yeah, I like this one; a lot.
The films premise is pretty cool too. Jason is a young kid of fourteen who has an issue with lying (what kid doesn't), and his bad behavior has landed him in some trouble. Jason is the definition of the `boy who cried wolf', and so when he actually tells the truth (that his essay was stolen by a movie mogul who is now plagiarizing by turning his story into a major motion picture) no one believes him; except his best friend Kaylee (but she may not even `really' believe him). When opportunity arises (as it often does in these films), Jason and Kaylee make their way to Hollywood in order to expose this creep and earn the trust of Jason's parents.
The whole idea of young kids using their imaginations to create something excites me, because I was once that kid, dreaming of writing something so amazing it became a movie!
The acting here is very good for a film in this genre, and character actor Paul Giamatti is at the top of the pack. I mean, when is he NOT good (don't answer that...I did see `Lady in the Water', but he was far from the worst part of that mess)? I admit to never having ever seen an episode of `Malcolm in the Middle', but I've seen a few of Frankie Muniz's movies and I really think that for a child actor he is quite good (can you believe he's not a child anymore?). Amanda Bynes is a gimmick, but she's so incredibly enjoyable (I've said this before) and I heart her so I have nothing but praise for her here as well.
What makes the film pop though is the smart writing. This has been done before (you know, smart kids + stupid adults = war) but this feels new and fresh to me. Each gag feels surprising and what is cool about this is that it manages to impress with each viewing. I've seen this a few times and every time I see it I laugh and enjoy myself. In fact, this was on cable last night, and I watched it from start to finish.
It's that much fun.
Taking a Break July 6, 2009
Michael Kerjman (The Earth)
It is so nice to watch something indecently funny afterwards "1408"!
Teen boy makes up stories and loses trust by anyone surrounding till his homework has became a movie-hit staged by Hollywood producer presenting it as own script.
Recovering rights on movie and punishing a professional liar constitute this comedy.
Personally, I am not convinced that during a film heralded Hollywood notion "This is a place dog-eats-dog" had been changed even by this movie's characters.
Anyway, sometimes viewers should take a break from real surrounding by switching to something more positive if even a fairytale.
Good watching after "1408 (Full Screen Edition)" especially.
Great time! July 16, 2008
Steve (Virginia)
This is such an entertaining and fast-moving movie that I have seen in countless times over the years and always have a great time! Thanks in HUGE part to the phenomenal performance of Paul Giamatti, BFL takes a unique idea, some excellent cameo casting (you gotta love Jaleel White with the self-effacing work he does here), and the fairly restrained performance of Frankie Muniz and concocts a funny and well done albeit innocuous little cinematic treat. Muniz could've gone overboard which other young actors succumb to but he stays in check for the most part and allows the rest of cast to do what they do. Again, without Giamatti, this movie is a throw-away, but his performance is delicious and never fails to make me laugh no matter how many times I hear his caustic remarks. He is just so, so good here!
Given how awful many movies that focus on kids outsmarting adults often are, this movie takes that dangerous premise and, thanks to building the kids' success on the help of other adults, the movie succeeds.
Worth seeing for Giamatti alone, Big Fat Liar is a great time!
A Movie For The whole Family June 17, 2008
David A. Smith (Webberville, Mi, USA)
This movie is pretty good, your modern cat & Mouse movie, with kids and a deranged movie producer. this movie rocks
 Bought it for the kids. October 23, 2007
H. Wm Rhea III
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this for the kids because they love it. The only thing that made this movie okay was Paul Giamatti's acting the part of Marty Wolf. However kids like this movie a lot! Most adults will find it fun enough a time or two, but after that, there are better things to do than watch this movie.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 92
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