The Big Bounce (2004)
Crime/Gangster, Romance and Thriller
1 hr. 48 min.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and nudity, violence and language.
Release Date: January 30th, 2004.
Starring: Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman, Sara Foster, Gary Sinise, Bebe Neuwirth
Directed by:George Armitage

 

Jack Ryan is a likeable drifter whose talents lie just outside the law. Hoping a change of scenery will bring him luck and also to get away from a few bad characters that may be looking for him, Jack heads for Hawaii. There on the exotic North Shore of Oahu, he soon discovers that whether he is looking for a new con or a little romance, temptation is everywhere. Jack takes a job working construction for Ray Ritchie, a shady real estate developer who is building a resort despite protests by local Hawaiians. Almost immediately, Jack has a run-in with Ray Ritchie's foreman, Lou Harris, and smashes him across the jaw with a Louisville Slugger. Bob Jr., Ritchie's right-hand man, warns Jack to get off the island if he knows what's good for him. Jack happily ignores Bob Jr. Impressed with Jack's knockout ability; North Shore District Judge Walter Crewes offers Jack a job while taking an unusually keen interest in Jack's past crimes and uncertain future. But in every con there is always once wrinkle and that is Nancy Hayes, a thrill-loving local who specializes in good looks and petty crime. When Nancy tries to seduce Jack into helping her double-cross Ray Ritchie and steal $200,000 of his payoff money, Jack is intrigued, but hesitant. This could be the perfect score, or the perfect setup as Jack is no longer certain he can trust as old friends double cross him and everybody seems to have agenda. So Jack must think quick on his feet if wants to make the big score without getting burned himself.

Where was the story, where was the plot? Where was anything that would get me remotely interested in this dry, boring movie that just seemed to never end. We get it everyone is scamming everyone, everyone is pulling there own little scam that is going to lead up to the big finale when we finally discover what all the scams were about. But that’s the problem there was no big finale, there was no amazing end that could probably ever justify the tedium and boredom that this movie was. You might have chuckled occasionally but not one single member of the cast ever did anything to entertain you or even interest you in the movie. I do not care how many big name actors you manage to sign on for a movie you still got to expect them to act and then give them a script that is somewhat interesting. They did neither, in fact Owen Wilson played the same goofy character he has played in every other movie he has been in. I am coming to the conclusion he cannot act and without stars like Jackie Chan to bail him out his movies stink. Morgan Freeman seems to not care anymore either has he is happy to be just a bit part actor playing off in the background rather than making any kind of impact on the movie. This is another one of those Hollywood churned out movie that forgets to actually be anything more than a bunch of big name actors thrown on the screen at the same time. Do not waste your time this movie is not even good enough for a rental.
.5 stars out of 5