So I watched The Big Lebowski for the first time last night...

[Phillycat]

Somehow I'd just never seen it. Everyone raves and raves and raves about this movie, so when I saw it on sale used at the video store, I just went ahead and bought it. I finally got around to watching it last night and...am I missing something here? Where was the funny? Isn't this supposed to be the funniest movie ever? I didn't even crack a smile. I thought it was fairly well-written, well-acted, and I can see how it's influenced other films. But funny? No. Not funny.

Bear in mind, I don't smoke pot. Is that the problem? What am I missing here?

[Guaranteed]

1. You gotta watch it about 3 times.

I didn't like it much the first time, either.

But I think it's a masterpiece. Beautifully made, great characters, great script.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

2. The pot

;-)
BTW, "THIS AGGRESSION WILL NOT STAND!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Metatron]

3. It's not my favorite of their films.

I wasn't quite let down, just not that impressed. It did seem to improve with repeated viewings.

[Dukakis88]

4. I didn't laugh at it much, either.

It sounds like, even though you didn't laugh, that you liked the movie more than I did.

The funny parts I think are supposed to be:

1) How insanely enraged John Goodman's character gets over nothing, contrasted with the super-mellow Liebowski and meek, quiet, neurotic Buscemi. By putting a rageaholic with these two guys, the contrast is supposed to be funny.

2) The German accented "Nihilists," which seemed like a sub-par sketch from the worst season of Saturday Night Live.

3) The way the Kaluha drips from Jeff Bridges's beard every time he drinks.

4) The retro musical numbers are supposed to be over-the-top and weird and thus funny.

For me, this movie was the beginning of my parting-of-ways with the Coens. I had been solidly a fan from the beginning through Fargo, but this one has marked the beginning of me being unsatisfied with everything they've done since. They just seem to have gone way too ironic and wink-wink for my tastes. I don't care about their characters anymore.

[MemphisTiger]

16. I think it's the other way around for number 1

The only time "The Dude" ever gets worked up is his interaction with Walter. Also, Walter is the most dynamic character in the movie. With this film, John Goodman has redeemd himself for making "King Ralph"


"Calmer than you are, dude"

[Crankie Avalon]

5. "Her life is in your hands, Dude."

"Vee vill cut off your Chohnson!"

The interactions between Jeff Bridges and John Goodman were hysterical.

[Donkeyboy75]

6. Watch it a couple more times.

I'm hooked. Great movie.

[Jessica]

7. I agree -

Since you own it, give it a couple more chances. I also didn't like it the first time & really didn't "get it." Now - it's an all-time classic favorite of mine.

[RPM]

8. its a fugue

watch for the reappearances of phrases and themes.

[peekaloo]

9. Donnie's burial scene still makes me laugh out loud.

Give the dude another chance.

[seeker4ever]

10. Love it and Raising Arazona

[Wilber_Stool]

11. Bummer man.....n/t

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

12. NOT FUNNY????

Wow

[Midlodemocrat]

13. Funny, this is exactly the same thing you posted about Holy Grail.

...coincidence? I think not.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

14. I was making a point - calling the funniest movies not funny

:)

[Midlodemocrat]

15. I know.

I was just egging you on. :-)

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

17. Fair enough

[Beware the Beast Man]

18. It's not slapstick, "Ha-ha" funny.

There are a number of humorous elements in it, though. The burial at sea scene is priceless.

[redqueen]

22. Everything's a fuckin' travesty with you, man!

LOVE that scene!

[Phillycat]

25. I hate slapstick. That's definitely not the problem.

[Beware the Beast Man]

26. Then what the Hell do you like?

:P

[Phillycat]

27. A funny movie to me is, say, Office Space.

[Beware the Beast Man]

28. That is a classic!

"I...i could set the building on fire..."

[Phillycat]

29. "We get caught laundering money...

...we're not going to white collar resort prison. No, no, no. We're going to Federal 'Pound me in the Ass' prison!"

[Guaranteed]

32. The Big Lebowski IMO is like 10 times funnier than Office Space.

Seriously, you just gotta watch it a few more times so that you don't have to worry about following the plot. **You have to listen to the dialogue.**

[Minstrel Boy]

19. I don't remember if I laughed out loud, but

I know I was smiling all the way through it. And that felt wonderful.

One of my favourites.

[Richardo]

20. It had it's moments - but IMO it's not the best Coen Bros effort...

...I for one got real tired of Walter. "STFU, Donny" is only funny the first one or two times. After the thirtieth --> :boring:

[Phillycat]

30. Seriously.

:eyes:

[redqueen]

21. A sense of humor?

Kidding!

Honestly, though... I don't know how you could miss the funny... it's pretty much constant, IMO.

Didn't this do anything for you?

"FAIR?! WHO'S THE FUCKING NIHILIST HERE?!"

:shrug:

[Rambis]

23. You think the carpet pissers did this?

I loved this movie but I didn't like the travolta/sam jackson movie at all either so:eyes:

[jobycom]

24. Watch it again, notice parody and irony

It's typical Cohen brothers, it mocks other films as it tells its own story, like The Last Action Hero, or O' Brother Where Art Though. I haven't watched it in a long time, so I wonder if some of the movie parody aspect is lost over time.

And for the record, I'm 39, and have never tried pot, any other rec drug, and I've never been drunk, so I don't think, but I don't know for sure, that pot would help you get it.

[Phillycat]

31. I'm pretty good with parody and irony.

I read a lot and I tend to like "smart" films (although I definitely like my share of crap, don't get me wrong!)

I didn't see much irony there. Perhaps you can give me some examples?

[leftofthedial]

34. thanks for this thread

just reading all the posts and the quotes from teh movie have me in stitches.

I think it is one of the funniest movies ever.

[leftofthedial]

33. oh man, it is relentlessly funny

I have to make sure paramedics are on call when I watch it

It's not the three stooges or bob hope kind of funny

it's v-e-r-y dry.

try a martini. that's as good as pot. If you've never smoked pot or known anyone who did, you might miss some of the references, but not the main humor.

[Abelman]

35. Saw it before I ever smoked pot - loved it

I think I actually bought it on DVD before I first saw it - don't know how that happened.

For me, the humor is in the realistic meets the absurd. I know people like The Dude and Walter and Steve Buscemi. But nothing ever happens to them. The funny thing I think is these loser morons actually having something happen to them.

It's theater of the absurd, for me.