Search - The Big Squeeze on DVD

Mmm... Delightful. Like great chocolate!

Cees Jan Mol | Eindhoven, the Netherlands | 10/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So okay... Not all movies can hit you between the eyes. But you also want to be able to enjoy a different type of movie. One that's mellow, that's subtle, that lies on your tongue and slowly melts... One of those movies is this one. Subtle. Delightful. Funny. Just like great chocolate!"

A parody of fundraisers funny on a difficult topic

Pork Chop | Lisbon, Portugal | 06/18/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"THE BIG SQUEEZE (1996) tells a story of a fight between a man and

his wife over a medical disability and health insurance claim paid

out by an insurer to them, in a lump sum.



Although this isn't made clear at all in the outset (the film

suggesting a sinister plot) much of the film, unfortunately or not,

is a parody of fundraisers done by NP0's, such as religious

organizations of all kinds, that are in dire straights in this day

and age from the taxman's cut, the need to meet construction codes

of building in public use, and from atheism in the population.



The target audience is obviously the below 21 bracket, considering

the obsessive, idealistic or utopic outlook on life, that revolves

centrally around what may or may not happen at a specific bar,

specific people, not excluding the essential lovemaking scenes.



There's the Michelle Pfeiffer lookalike, Lara Flynn B0yle (in look,

mannerisms and acting), as well as a Ted Danson clone in the form

of Luca Bercovici or a young Geraldo Rivera cameleon Danny Nucci,

all doing fine jobs on screen, in projecting an aura of innocence,

youth, calmness, a relaxed friendliness throughout the 90 mins.

This allows the movie to bring forth the human, personal aspects

of the characters, that is important in keeping people interested

and the gags alive.



They organize a fund raiser for chuch repairs required by a revised

municipal building code for earthquakes, and is led by Peter

Dobson, who plays a mix between playboy, grifter and conman,

setting up the mark, Bercovici, in anticipation of cashing in on

the insurance cash that the latter refuses to split evenly with his

wife, Boyle.



The fact that a pan and scan format was chosen is an omen. This is

not a visual movie (aside from projecting the charisma, good humor

and freshness of the cast), but rather a comedy, such that the

focal point is the dialog, the twists and the reactions of the

characters to each turn in events.



The soundtrack for the most part is adequate, skillfully composed,

although the band playing some covers of 6O's numbers will make

some cringe.



They plan to score $120k, and to blow town, splitting the amount

among themselves, with little fear, remorse of bilking a church, an

entire community, or so they plan to... it's "time to make lemonade

out of the lemons" by squeezing the marks, says Dobson.



Overall, this picture is not spectacular enough for theatres unless

you are in the target demographic, but the makers should be

congratulated for making a funny and interesting movie, indeed, on

a taboo topic of fundraisers."