Bigger, Fatter, but NOT Better

*This review will contain spoilers for Big Fat Liar and Bigger Fatter Liar

Well, we've reached a new milestone on this blog: I have found a film I do not like. But, before I get too into the new film, a little background on the original.

Big Fat Liar was a 2002 comedy about a high school student who lies. A lot. One day, his final paper is accidentally left in a limo with a Hollywood director. When he finds his paper is being turned into a film, he and his girlfriend travel to LA to get revenge, and hijinks ensue. I enjoyed this film fifteen years ago, and still find it amusing today. The slapstick and timing was perfect, and there was a reasonable background on the characters.

Bigger Fatter Liar is about the same thing, only it's a video game instead of a movie. It also lacks the comedic nature of the film. The lead male, Ricky Garcia, has none of the charismatic charm of Frankie Muniz, and thus the premise is less agreeable. The original benefited from the over-the-top performances of Muniz and Giamatti. This allowed the film to be fun. This version, which starts with flat out theft (he literally throws the boy out of the limo, rather than finding the paper as they pull away.

The acting is also pathetic in comparison to the original. The lines are dull and uninterested, and the villain feels more like a presidential candidate instead of a struggling professional. None of the lies make sense, and the timing is boring and slow. This is captured in the posters shown above as well. The latter was more staged and lacks any interest in the project. The original has sass, action, and energy. It feels more alive than the latter.

Rather than hiding out in a costume warehouse, this version sees the "heroes" of the story committing identity theft and staying in a five star hotel on the villain's credit card, eating very expensive food and buying large wardrobes. He even goes as far as pretending to be the villain to ensure that the charges are not unusual.

This film feels like a cheap attempt to make an old premise relevant to a new audience by changing the name, which makes no sense, seeing as this has nothing to do with the original and isn't a sequel, and doing the same thing, just with a video game instead of a movie. It feels like the people who made this film are as guilty of plagiarism as the character in the film. I wouldn't mind if they had enhanced the story, but they made it worse. I didn't laugh once during the hour and a half long film. Not even a giggle.

If you want a humorous caper that enforces the moral of truth, watch Big Fat Liar, and leave this one alone. I felt this was a big, fat waste of my time. And that is the truth.

Let me know what you thought of Big Fat Liar and/or Bigger Fatter Liar in the comments below.

Click here to watch Big Fat Liar on Amazon Video.