Big Bully (film)
Encyclopedia
Big Bully is a 1996 comedy-drama film
starring Rick Moranis
and Tom Arnold
. The film was directed by Steve Miner
.
, young David Leary (Justin Jon Ross) was constantly bullied by Roscoe Bigger (Michael Zweiner), nicknamed "Fang" because of a pointed tooth. David is ecstatic when his parents announce they're moving to Oakland
. Before leaving, David squeals on Fang for stealing a moon rock
being shown at their school. As the Learys leave town, Fang is arrested.
30 years later, David (Rick Moranis
) is divorced and raising his troubled son Ben (Blake Bashoff
) as a single parent. Not having much success as a writer, David's old school offers him a job teaching creative writing
. Things go well at first, meeting some "too friendly" neighbors Art and Betty Lundstrum (Jeffrey Tambor
and Faith Prince
), and rekindling a relationship with his old flame Victoria (Julianne Phillips
). He also encounters the school librarian Mrs. Rumpert (Norma MacMillan
) who is still waiting for David to return Green Eggs and Ham
to the library. After Ben begins picking on a little kid named Kirby (Cody McMains
), David meets the boy's father Ross Bigger (Tom Arnold
) when both of them are called to the office of Principal Kokelar (Don Knotts
) revolving around both their sons' actions. Despite a friendly first meeting, David soon discovers that the mild-mannered shop teacher is his old enemy "Fang". Following a fire drill, David meets with his old friend Ulf (Tony Pierce) who is a firefighter. When meeting with Ulf, Alan (Harry Waters, Jr.), and Gerry (Stuart Pankin
) at a bar, David learns from them that after Ross got out of juvenile hall, Ross' parent's skipped town which eventually led to him growing up in an orphanage
.
When Ross learns who David is, he reembarks on his old routine as revenge for putting him in juvenile hall. Ross drops his mild-mannered attitude and begins taking charge in his classroom and his own home. In a twist of irony, David's son begins bullying the old bully's son. Although after a discussion with Ben, they become fast friends. Ross begins to intimidate him more and more until David becomes paranoid, and begins freaking out another teacher named Clark (Curtis Armstrong
) who thinks he is on crack
. David gets to his last straw after Ross humiliates him in front of Victoria at the prom. When David brings Ross' actions to Principal Kokelar after a recent pranking, David is told by Principal Kokelar that Ross has been a teacher longer than David has and even states that he had gotten some complaints from Clark about David and that if David can't straighten up his act, he will get another teacher to cover for him for the remainder of the school semester. The only comment that David could make was that he was the town hero.
Later that night, David decides to end it once and for all. After a game of cat-and-mouse in the school after hours (in which Ross reveals details of his stint in juvenile hall), David flees to his hiding place he used when he was a child which was a cave. Ross chases him onto a waterfall
and tells David that he always thought of him as a friend, before an enraged Ross attacks him. David hits him with a piece of driftwood
causing Ross to fall into the river. Fearing that he has killed his enemy, David tries to turn himself over to the police only to find that the cops are out. Ulf drives David to his home while he tries to find Ross' body. After a talk with Art, David attempts to go to sleep only to discover Ross alive and well. The two men fight once again until Kirby and Ben come in and reveal that they've made up and encourage their fathers do the same. During this, Ross reveals he stole the moon rock because he wanted to be an astronaut. It was also shown that during their recent fight, Ross' "fang" was chipped.
With nothing left for him in Hastings, David begins to pack up and move to New York. He has Victoria return Green Eggs and Ham to the school library for him. Ross arrives and as a goodbye present for David, Ross gives him an Evel Knievel
action figure identical to the one David had as a child before Ross threw it into a river. David tells them to visit whenever, and the changed family leaves. Ross hooks up his mobile home to his truck, and follows David telling his family that they have been "invited" to come to New York.
, grossing only $2,042,530 from an estimated $15 million budget. It was also a critical failure, currently holding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes
.
Tom Arnold tied with Pauly Shore
for a 1996 Razzie Award in part for his role in Big Bully as well as for Carpool
and The Stupids
.
Chicago Sun-Times
film critic Roger Ebert
called this film: "One of the worst films I've ever seen in my entire life, I mean, who wants to see two grown men acting like children for 90 minutes." He gave this film zero stars.
Chicago Tribune
film critic Gene Siskel
called this film: "The worst movie I've ever reviewed or seen in my years as a film critic".
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
starring Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis
Frederick Allan "Rick" Moranis is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and a magician. Moranis came to prominence in the late 1970s on the sketch comedy show Second City Television, and later appeared in several Hollywood films including Strange Brew; Ghostbusters; Spaceballs; Little Shop of...
and Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
. The film was directed by Steve Miner
Steve Miner
Stephen C. "Steve" Miner is an American film and television director who is also a film producer.Miner was born in Westport, Connecticut. Television programs Miner has directed include The Wonder Years, Jake 2.0, Felicity, Dawson's Creek , and Diagnosis: Murder...
.
Plot
Growing up in Hastings, MinnesotaHastings, Minnesota
Hastings is a city in Dakota counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. The population was 22,172 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dakota County. The bulk of Hastings is in Dakota County; only a small part of the city extends...
, young David Leary (Justin Jon Ross) was constantly bullied by Roscoe Bigger (Michael Zweiner), nicknamed "Fang" because of a pointed tooth. David is ecstatic when his parents announce they're moving to Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. Before leaving, David squeals on Fang for stealing a moon rock
Moon rock
Moon rock describes rock that formed on the Earth's moon. The term is also loosely applied to other lunar materials collected during the course of human exploration of the Moon.The rocks collected from the Moon are measured by radiometric dating techniques...
being shown at their school. As the Learys leave town, Fang is arrested.
30 years later, David (Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis
Frederick Allan "Rick" Moranis is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and a magician. Moranis came to prominence in the late 1970s on the sketch comedy show Second City Television, and later appeared in several Hollywood films including Strange Brew; Ghostbusters; Spaceballs; Little Shop of...
) is divorced and raising his troubled son Ben (Blake Bashoff
Blake Bashoff
Blake Warren Bashoff is an American television and motion picture actor, known for his role as Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening. He has also appeared in a number of guest roles on television series, including the ABC series Lost as Karl Martin.- Life and career :Bashoff was born in Philadelphia,...
) as a single parent. Not having much success as a writer, David's old school offers him a job teaching creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
. Things go well at first, meeting some "too friendly" neighbors Art and Betty Lundstrum (Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
and Faith Prince
Faith Prince
Faith Prince is an American actress and singer known primarily for her work on Broadway. Prince has won the Tony Award as Best Actress in a Musical and received three Tony nominations.-Life and career:...
), and rekindling a relationship with his old flame Victoria (Julianne Phillips
Julianne Phillips
Julianne Phillips is an American model and actress. She is the ex-wife of Bruce Springsteen.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Phillips was raised in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Oregon, the daughter of insurance broker, William Phillips, and wife, Ann Phillips. She was the youngest of...
). He also encounters the school librarian Mrs. Rumpert (Norma MacMillan
Norma MacMillan
Norma MacMillan was a Canadian voice actor.Norma MacMillan was a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was there that she met, worked with and married her producer/manager husband Thor Arngrim. Arngrim had started the now-legendary, but short-lived Totem Theatre company in 1951...
) who is still waiting for David to return Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham is a best-selling and critically acclaimed book by Dr. Seuss, first published on August 12, 1960. As of 2001, according to Publishers Weekly, it was the fourth-best-selling English-language children's book of all time....
to the library. After Ben begins picking on a little kid named Kirby (Cody McMains
Cody McMains
Cody McMains is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Mitch Briggs in Not Another Teen Movie....
), David meets the boy's father Ross Bigger (Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
) when both of them are called to the office of Principal Kokelar (Don Knotts
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
) revolving around both their sons' actions. Despite a friendly first meeting, David soon discovers that the mild-mannered shop teacher is his old enemy "Fang". Following a fire drill, David meets with his old friend Ulf (Tony Pierce) who is a firefighter. When meeting with Ulf, Alan (Harry Waters, Jr.), and Gerry (Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin
Stuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
) at a bar, David learns from them that after Ross got out of juvenile hall, Ross' parent's skipped town which eventually led to him growing up in an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
.
When Ross learns who David is, he reembarks on his old routine as revenge for putting him in juvenile hall. Ross drops his mild-mannered attitude and begins taking charge in his classroom and his own home. In a twist of irony, David's son begins bullying the old bully's son. Although after a discussion with Ben, they become fast friends. Ross begins to intimidate him more and more until David becomes paranoid, and begins freaking out another teacher named Clark (Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong is an American actor best known for his portrayal as Booger in the Revenge of the Nerds movies, as Herbert Viola on Moonlighting, and as famed record producer Ahmet Ertegün in the film Ray.-Early life:...
) who thinks he is on crack
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
. David gets to his last straw after Ross humiliates him in front of Victoria at the prom. When David brings Ross' actions to Principal Kokelar after a recent pranking, David is told by Principal Kokelar that Ross has been a teacher longer than David has and even states that he had gotten some complaints from Clark about David and that if David can't straighten up his act, he will get another teacher to cover for him for the remainder of the school semester. The only comment that David could make was that he was the town hero.
Later that night, David decides to end it once and for all. After a game of cat-and-mouse in the school after hours (in which Ross reveals details of his stint in juvenile hall), David flees to his hiding place he used when he was a child which was a cave. Ross chases him onto a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
and tells David that he always thought of him as a friend, before an enraged Ross attacks him. David hits him with a piece of driftwood
Driftwood
Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea or river by the action of winds, tides, waves or man. It is a form of marine debris or tidewrack....
causing Ross to fall into the river. Fearing that he has killed his enemy, David tries to turn himself over to the police only to find that the cops are out. Ulf drives David to his home while he tries to find Ross' body. After a talk with Art, David attempts to go to sleep only to discover Ross alive and well. The two men fight once again until Kirby and Ben come in and reveal that they've made up and encourage their fathers do the same. During this, Ross reveals he stole the moon rock because he wanted to be an astronaut. It was also shown that during their recent fight, Ross' "fang" was chipped.
With nothing left for him in Hastings, David begins to pack up and move to New York. He has Victoria return Green Eggs and Ham to the school library for him. Ross arrives and as a goodbye present for David, Ross gives him an Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
action figure identical to the one David had as a child before Ross threw it into a river. David tells them to visit whenever, and the changed family leaves. Ross hooks up his mobile home to his truck, and follows David telling his family that they have been "invited" to come to New York.
Cast
- Rick MoranisRick MoranisFrederick Allan "Rick" Moranis is a Canadian comedian, actor, musician, and a magician. Moranis came to prominence in the late 1970s on the sketch comedy show Second City Television, and later appeared in several Hollywood films including Strange Brew; Ghostbusters; Spaceballs; Little Shop of...
(Justin Jon Ross, young) as David Leary - Tom ArnoldTom Arnold (actor)Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
(Michael Zweiner, young) as Roscoe "Fang" Bigger - Julianne PhillipsJulianne PhillipsJulianne Phillips is an American model and actress. She is the ex-wife of Bruce Springsteen.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Phillips was raised in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Oregon, the daughter of insurance broker, William Phillips, and wife, Ann Phillips. She was the youngest of...
(Tiffany Foster, young) as Victoria Tucker - Carol KaneCarol KaneCarolyn Laurie "Carol" Kane is an American actress. Kane has worked on the stage, on the screen and in television. She appeared on the television series Taxi in the early 1980s, as the wife of the character played by Andy Kaufman. She received two Emmy Awards for her work...
as Faith Bigger - Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
as Art Lundstrum - Curtis ArmstrongCurtis ArmstrongCurtis Armstrong is an American actor best known for his portrayal as Booger in the Revenge of the Nerds movies, as Herbert Viola on Moonlighting, and as famed record producer Ahmet Ertegün in the film Ray.-Early life:...
as Clark - Tony Pierce (Matthew Slowik, young) as Ulf
- Harry Waters, Jr. (C. J. Grayson, young) as Alan
- Faith PrinceFaith PrinceFaith Prince is an American actress and singer known primarily for her work on Broadway. Prince has won the Tony Award as Best Actress in a Musical and received three Tony nominations.-Life and career:...
as Betty Lundstrum - Don KnottsDon KnottsJesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
as Principal Kokelar - Blake BashoffBlake BashoffBlake Warren Bashoff is an American television and motion picture actor, known for his role as Moritz Stiefel in Spring Awakening. He has also appeared in a number of guest roles on television series, including the ABC series Lost as Karl Martin.- Life and career :Bashoff was born in Philadelphia,...
as Ben Leary - Cody McMainsCody McMainsCody McMains is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Mitch Briggs in Not Another Teen Movie....
as Kirby Bigger - Stuart PankinStuart PankinStuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
(Grant Hoover, young) as Gerry - Bill DowBill DowBill Dow is an actor, director and writer in theatre, film, and television. He is best known for playing Bill Lee in the Stargate franchise. He also had a recurring roles as Russ Hathaway in the Canadian drama series Da Vinci's Inquest, as Mr. Parkman in Pasadena, and Dr. Charles Burks in The X Files...
and Susan Bain as David's parents - Norma MacMillanNorma MacMillanNorma MacMillan was a Canadian voice actor.Norma MacMillan was a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was there that she met, worked with and married her producer/manager husband Thor Arngrim. Arngrim had started the now-legendary, but short-lived Totem Theatre company in 1951...
as Mrs. Rumpert - Alf Humphreys as Teacher
- Miriam SmithMiriam SmithMiriam Smith is the current Mayor of the City of Tea Tree Gully, Adelaide, South Australia. Before becoming Mayor, Smith represented the Drumminor Ward in the council from 2003 to 2006.-External links:*...
as Crying teacher - Gregory Smith as Kid #2
- Tegan MossTegan MossTegan Moss is a Young Artist Award-nominated Canadian actress appearing in film and television.Moss was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has two brothers, Rory Moss, and actor Jesse Moss. Her given name is of Welsh origin, meaning "fair one" and pronounced TEG-ann...
as Girl in class - Alexander PollockAlexander PollockAlexander Pollock is a Canadian film and TV actor.One of his most significant roles was that of the character Scotty Brody in the feature film Cats & Dogs...
as Corky - Kyle LabineKyle LabineJonathan Kyle Labine is a Canadian actor. His brothers Tyler Labine and Cameron Labine, also work in the entertainment industry.- Filmography :-External links:...
as Stevie
Reception
The film was a box office bombBox office bomb
The phrase box office bomb refers to a film for which the production and marketing costs greatly exceeded the revenue regained by the movie studio. This should not be confused with Hollywood accounting when official figures show large losses, yet the movie is a financial success.A film's financial...
, grossing only $2,042,530 from an estimated $15 million budget. It was also a critical failure, currently holding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Tom Arnold tied with Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore
Paul Montgomery "Pauly" Shore is an American comedian and actor who starred in several comedy films in the 1990s and hosted a video show on MTV in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
for a 1996 Razzie Award in part for his role in Big Bully as well as for Carpool
Carpool (film)
Carpool is a 1996 comedy film directed by Arthur Hiller and starring David Paymer and Tom Arnold.-Plot:Workaholic advertising executive of Bauer & Cole, Daniel Miller , has an important business meeting, but finds himself having to drive the neighborhood carpool for his sons, Bucky Miller and...
and The Stupids
The Stupids
* For the skatepunk band see The Stupids * For the 1996 film, see The Stupids The Stupids are a fictional family which appear in a series of books written by Harry Allard and James Marshall...
.
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
called this film: "One of the worst films I've ever seen in my entire life, I mean, who wants to see two grown men acting like children for 90 minutes." He gave this film zero stars.
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
film critic Gene Siskel
Gene Siskel
Eugene Kal "Gene" Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted the popular review show Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1975 until his death....
called this film: "The worst movie I've ever reviewed or seen in my years as a film critic".