This film is directed by and stars Rob Schneider, of whom, I am a great fan of from other films like - 'The Animal' 'Duce Bigalo Gigalo' and 'The Hot Chick'. Almost all his films are comedies (or else, the one's I have watched anyway) and he has to be one of my favourite American Actors. This film was released in 2007 and again, is a comedy.
*********The Plot and story *************** The story line and plot is very basic and easy to follow. This allows us to focus more on the humour than trying to fathom what is going on.
The start is quite quick and begins with the sentence of 'Stan' to three years in jail for fraud. Basically, he's a con man who has conned people of their money. He's really rich; owns a luxurious mansion with posh cars and a beautiful faithful wife called 'Mindy'. Stan is terrified of going to jail, which will be based in a American camp. He's heard that all the men get raped and he seems a likely target (small with a tattoo saying 'mummy'). He decided to make himself 'unrapeable' by following the guidance of a mysterious Martial arts teacher called 'The Master'.
When it is time
to go to jail camp, Stan is well trained. He quickly makes it his aim to establish himself as not someone to mess or take advantage of by basically, beating everyone up that turns on him. The men in the jail camp all belong to 'group' (like the nazi's, or blacks, or hippies, or er...scientologists), all of whom hate each other but begin to see Stan as a figure head.
Anyway, Stan basically turns these 'hard men' into big softies. They start reading poetry, dancing to salsa music etc...it's really funny to watch the transformation.
The Sub plot is actually made known to the audience so I am not revealing any spoilers here. The ranch keeper doesn't like this new 'softness' as opposed to fighting amongst the men. He wants to knock down the prison and build a real Estate, with Stans guidance (seeing as Stan was an estate agent). He was planning on there being a deliberate riot in the yards whilst amongst some top end businessmen so that he could be given permission to knock the prison down due to it being to 'dangerous'. In return for Stan's help in achieving this riot and throwing to the wind all that Stan has taught the men, he will be allowed out of the prison. Stan agrees.
I won't detail anymore; I'll leave you to watch it for yourselves but it is a hilarious film. All the main men have individual characters that we can identify with a being to love and laugh at. There's one called 'Big Raymond' who is this really muscular black guy with a huge sexual ego. He looks really tough but we actually find him to be like a big fluffy bunny who pulls some of the sweetest girly smiles and actions.
Some of the fighting techniques are really obscure, weird and funny. For example, the 'Finger of fate' which is basically, Stan's index finger being used as a deadly weapon. Obviously it's all dramatised and unrealistic. No one could ever pierce through wood by only using one finger without serious damage. Nor could they dislocate their wrists to get out of hand cuffs and snap them back into place again or fight off a bunch of men using several bars of soap roped onto a shoe lace but this is what makes to film quirky and entertaining.
********* Characters **********
Stan is an interesting character. Whilst quite dumb at the beginning of the film, during his training, we see that he's actually quite hard whilst in prison, as in unemotionally to the sexual bullying, though this may just be an act. He's a likeable guy and unintentionally witty.
'The Master' played by David Carradine is a classic and brilliant character who trains Stan. His lessons include endless amounts of smoking; vile food; face and belly slaps using hot poker sticks and weightlifting of his huge supply of left over fag ends. He's a weird sort of deluded character who is most entertaining to watch and wonder what he'll do next.
Mindy is Stan's wife and like her name suggests, is slightly bimbo and airy but very loyal and loving towards Stan. She wants to have a child but Stan refuses and tells her to 'get a dog'.
This film is an 18 certificate, mainly because there are a few rude indications in relation to things like masturbation. Obviously these are never shown and more often than not it is deception, where the audience thinks that what it is but it turns out to be something harmless. Still, it is unsuitable for small children. It is however, a great comedy film for young adults and I really enjoyed it. It's not so disgustingly rude that you would watch in horror and turn your nose up at. It's just funny and ever so slightly gross, with the dislocated fingers and stuff during practice for the 'finger of faint'.
Thoroughly recommended and commendments to Rob Schneider once again!
I found a link to the trailer if you wanna check it out. It doesn't do the film complete jutice as to how funny it is but it gives a good taster for you - http://www.trailerspy.com/trailer/398/big-stan-trailer/
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
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