While Director Barry Sonnenfeld is deserving of praise for such great films as “GET SHORTY” and “MEN IN BLACK,” one shouldn’t forget that he also directed such crap as “WILD WILD WEST.”  “BIG TROUBLE” has received scathing reviews, and although it’s not a great film, it’s much more enjoyable than the critiques suggest.

Originally set for release in September, 2001, because the criminals in the film are trying to set off a nuclear bomb in the United States, BUENA VISTA postponed its release, and failed to get behind it with marketing when it finally was released in 2002.

“BIG TROUBLE” doesn’t offer the depth of character that was presented in Dave Barry’s novel.  We really only get a caricature of the main players, and this diminishes our ability to care about them.  Tim Allen is runs a Miami advertising agency.  Allen’s son is taking part in a game with his friends, wherein they “tag” targets with squirt guns.  When the son attempts to spray the daughter of an executive at the exact same moment that mob hitmen shoot at her father(Stanley Tucci), mass confusion and an attempt at a complicated comedy ensue. Tucci’s involved with a plot to buy a nuclear bomb, a romance between Allen and Tucci’s wife, Rene Russo, forms, and so on. There are so many other characters, a sex-kittenish maid, FBI agents, and more, and none of them are well-defined. It’s really a shame, because for a few minutes at a time, it looks hopeful.  The most interesting character in the film is a frog(not kidding!),and while it’s actually a funny gag, the rest of the film should be just as funny.

BUENA VISTA has preserved the film’s 1.85:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhancement. It’s a decent transfer, but there’s a surprising amount of artifacts.  The film’s Miami setting presents great potential, often complimented with rich colors.  Generally, the image is well defined and sharp.  But, at other times, the image is soft, and colors are subdued.  Fleshtones appear natural. 

BUENA VISTA has presented a DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 mix.  While James Newton Howard’s score is well presented through all speakers, this isn’t an aggressive mix.  There are some ambient effects, but surrounds are restrained for the most part.  Virtually all directional effects are allocated towards the front soundstage.  Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion. 

A running commentary with Sonnenfeld is offered on an optional track. He’s done several commentaries on other discs already, and is very relaxed and forthcoming here.  It’s entertaining, and often quite funny.  We get to learn a great deal about the film’s production and filmmaking in general from it.  It’s well worth listening to, and as a whole, better than the actual film.   

A segment titled “FIVE MINUTE MOVIE” is basically akin to “cliff notes” for the film, offering a pared down version of the film, via highlights.