Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
Mindless teen hijinks; mild slapping actions, cursing.
Videos and photos
Based on 1 parent review
What is the story?
Kevin Shepard (Ricky Garcia) can’t seem to get out of trouble in BIGGER FATTER LIAR. He’s so busy taking shortcuts, lying, and plagiarizing his schoolwork that he doesn’t seem to be aware that he has valuable talents he could use. It only takes him a few hours to create a video game that could be really special. But when he’s on his way to school to hand in his masterpiece, a freak accident finds him in the backseat of a limo with Alan Wolf (Barry Bostwick), a monumentally successful video game executive. Unfortunately for Kevin, Alan Wolf is an even bigger liar and cheat than he is. The all-important game plan was taken over by Wolf, and Kevin was literally left out in the cold. Kevin wants his game back, and when news breaks that a video game is about to hit the market, he vows to get it. What follows is a series of adventures during which Kevin, along with his best and most trusted friend, Becca (Jodelle Ferland), tricks and pranks the unrepentant Wolf until he breaks down. It’s a backstabbing, breaking and entering, kidnapping plot where Alan Wolf keeps trying to pull off the heist despite those pesky kids.
Is it good?
It doesn’t get any funnier than this crazy, fantastical comedic swing, where nothing makes sense and the sight gags, along with the humiliation of the bad guy, mean everything. Poor Barry Bostwick! The indignities he endures should not befall any actor, especially his longevity and talent. Ricky Garcia and Jodelle Ferland are fine, considering the fact that almost everything they do and say Greater Fatter Liar They come out of left field, can’t fault them for their performances — just for taking on the job. The enormity of dishonesty and misbehavior these two kids engage in makes the resolution where Kevin learns his key lessons seem inconsequential. Kids, especially middle schoolers and teenagers, might laugh at the big scowling man wreaking havoc on the streets in white and hideous paint, trapped on the tracks as an oncoming train roars toward him, and facing the ultimate punishment of working as a mime on city streets, but there is a vile spirit and thoughtlessness in it, everything that makes it disgusting. Stick to the original Big fat liar if you want to have fun watching a young teenager get back at an evil businessman.
Talk to your kids about…
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Families can discuss the consequences (or lack thereof) of Kevin’s behavior Greater Fatter Liar. How much would Kevin’s “five-day suspension” affect him when it was given on the last day of school? What could be the consequences in real life a). theft of phones and credit cards and their use, b). house burglary, or c). using a parent’s credit card to charge significant amounts? Does the fact that this movie is a comedy make it okay?
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What specific story elements or characters resulted in Kevin’s turnaround? Was there enough evidence to believe him when he said, “I don’t want to lie anymore. I want my dad to be proud of me. I want to be proud of myself”?
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Who are the “smart” people in this movie? Is Alan Wolf, with his greed, arrogance and stupidity, really a worthy opponent for Kevin and Becca? In creating a story, what is the advantage of having a worthy enemy for the hero or heroes?
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Look up the literary term “comic foil”. Considering that Kevin’s teacher, Kevin’s father, Alan Wolf, and his associates are all either gullible, dishonest, or foolish, how does the concept of “comic foil” apply to the adults in this story?
Did we miss something about diversity?
Research shows a connection between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews, which will be published continuously. You can help us help children