Big and Hairy

In the grand tradition of Harry & the Hendersons and Air Bud, comes Big and Hairy, soon to be seen in an afternoon slot on a cable station near you. Much like Tammy & the T-Rex/Paper Brigade, B&H is one of those guilty pleasures you pop in the VCR when mama and papa bear are out getting plastered at the local pub.

Even though the lead characters name is Picasso, and some of the actors obviously skipped a few too many lessons, it's a good film for the young'uns. One particular casting flaw, however is in the form of Chilton Crane (who?) as Picasso's mom. She talks as though she's in a soap opera, walks like she has a pole lodged up her butt and makes really perplexed faces (note the scene where the family can 'hear something fishy'). She hit the films lowpoint, I just wish she'd hit herself. The BigFoot is pretty cool though, not as cheap as I'd expected. Underrated little gem, nice to see it received a DVD release.

6/10

Sasquatch playing basketball - what more do you need? I literally fell on the floor laughing at several points. What is scary is that by the end of the movie it was perfectly acceptable that there is a seven foot sasquatch dancing with a 27 year-old (supposedly Middle School) at the Valentines dance. (And some claim that TV and movies aren't hardening our minds to such drival.) It is well worth a $1 rental (or purchase as the case may be). By the way the brief Star Wars clip was blasphemy against all things good about a movie.

This is a movie where you won't recognize any of the actors and the sets and costumes look like they were either home made by the actors or cost $5 at Walmart. But none of that matters. This is a movie where Bigfoot joins a middle school basketball team. That is a movie worth seeing and laughing at.

Don't ask me. It's a movie about Big Foot joining a kid's middle school basketball team, if that doesn't strike your interest you may not have a soul. But, after seeing my 10 stars you've got to be wondering, "is it actually good?"

Yes. Absolutely. A resounding HECK YEAH!

If you are a connoisseur of strange or unknown movies, you may be aware that bad comedies can be some of the hardest things to sit through. This is usually because when a comedy fails it fails in making its audience laugh, which for trash movies such as this one, is the entire point.

But, here's the thing. It's actually hilarious. And the characters are weirdly likable. Even the Wookie knockoff, heck, especially the Wookie knockoff. Every time the thing squawks in that crappy Chewbacca suit I can't help but bust a gut.

The premise is so beyond idiotic. It's literally Air Bud but with the missing link. And we're supposed to grow emotionally attached to the freaky ape thing as the film progresses. It's so simple and stupid I just can't help becoming enamored with it as it unfolds. I genuinely cheered for them at the end. It's not even irony, or post-irony, or any of that crap, I just want Picasso to win the big game.

All in all, a truly marvelous experience that deserves many more fans than it has. Highly recommended.

Even though they advertise this as being a family film, it is quite the opposite. It is full of kids disrespecting coaches, parents, and adults in general.

One of the "guiding" questions on the back of the film is "Why was it a good idea for the coach to give all of the kids equal playing time?" Really? Do we want to tell our kids that they should get equal playing time no matter their ability level? If yes, then we're telling our kids that earning a spot on a team is not necessary - it will just be given to you.

But a reoccurring theme in the movie seems to be the attitude that the student athletes give to adults/parents.

So, if you want to show your kid what not to do in today's society - this is a must see.