Starring: Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, Fred Ward, Edward Herrmann, Michele Placido Directed By: Jim Abrahams Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: August 13, 2002 Running Time: 98 minutes Theatrical Release Date: June 10, 1988
Product Description: Two sets of identical twins, separated at birth and reared in drastically different environments, are reunited in the big city of Manhattan, for a series of comedic mishaps. Genre: Feature Film-Comedy Rating: PG Release Date: 13-JAN-2004 Media Type: DVD
Nature or Nurture, Disney Won't Decide This film approaches the nature vs. nurture debate in comedic tones, but in politically correct Disney fashion, they never pick a side.
"Big Business" is an entertaining comedy. It is also a Disney product through and through. It is created by the same corporation that made "The Parent Trap" and it shows. This is a film based on the same mistaken identity and fish out of water genres.
I am with the folks that believe Disney created the Touchstone name so they could cash in on movies that include cussing and nudity, but still maintain their wholesome image. However, I do acknowledge that this film has neither of those, which is good, because if anyone was separated at birth I'm betting it was Lily Tomlin and Mick Jagger. The filmmakers do hurl a not so subtle rock at their chief competitor, Mr. Weinstein by dubbing the evil corporation of the film "Moramax."
Technically writing, the digital transfer is weak. The techs did nothing to improve the look of the film it is often grainy and the special effects are dated, with jarring color differences between the twins and their "clones." Touchstone added no features to the DVD, not even cast bios.
Some of the "cameos" were fun, but one wasn't. I enjoyed seeing a young Seth Meyers as the spoiled child and Louis Rukeyser of "Wall Street Week" getting beaten with a purse. The World Trade Center's twin towers were in several shots and that always takes me out of a film for a few moments.
Interesting choice for the writers/producers to go contrary to type and name red-head rose Midler's character "Sadie" and Tomlin's non-traditional character "Rose."
One must suspend a whole truckload of disbelief to swallow the premise that two sets of twins are born at the same moment at the same rural hospital, mixed up, named the same and then cross paths, multiple times 50 years later without seeing eachother. It is extremely contrived, to say the least. But...if you can do that, you'll be rewarded with a very funny, entertaining hour and a half.
comedic case of mistaken identities I remember watching this as a young kid with my mother. I was surprised when this was released on DVD and bought myself a copy.
*Big Business* still cracked me up. Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin both play a set of twins. At a small hospital in a small town, Jupiter Hollow, a visiting rich couple give birth to twin girls. At the same time, a local poor couple give birth to twin girls. However, an overwhelmed nurse misplaces one girl with another girl in their cribs.
Fast-forward to their adulthood...the rich twin girls take over their father's company. Rich Sadie (Midler) wants to cut her losses and sell Jupiter Hollow. Rich Rose (Tomlin) is just not into this whole corporate world and just simply follows what Sadie wants. Meanwhile, Poor Rose wants to go to New York and give them a piece of her mind about this whole shebang. Poor Sadie just wants to taste the city life of NYC.
Pretty soon, they'll meet and have a moment they'll never forget.
*Big Business* is hilarious, especially with Rich Rose's obsession with pastries. Tomlin just cracks me up.
A classic, indeed!
Lily Tomlin Rocks Big Business rocks. It's one of the greatest movies ever made. Get smart and see it. This needs to be remastered and re-released. It's a shamed to see the picture looking so old.
Big Business Great movie that has not lost its appeal since I last saw it about 17 years ago. Very entertaining.
Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin - Great together Bette Midler and Lily Tomplin come to the screen as two sets of twins misplaced at birth. The movie is the best of Midler and Tomlin. The bathroom scene where the twins meet will knock you out!
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