At the time, Big Bully was a critical and commercial failure. The 4.5/10 on this site even proves how unlike this is. But after rewatching it in a time that has changed a lot since then, it is safe to say that Big Bully is really not a bad film.

Rick Moranis decided to take a vacation from acting in 1997 to spend time with his family. The vacation turned permanent when he realized he didn't miss it. So seeing him in one of his very last films is a treat. It is also good seeing the likes of Don Knotts, Carol Kane, Tom Arnold, and Jeffrey Tambor.

David Leary (Rick Moranis) was a geeky kid who had weird friends, making him the perfect target for bully Rosco "Fang" (Tom Arnold). Rosco picked on David mercilessly up until middle school. Rosco stole a "moon rock" from a traveling science exhibition and David turned him in when he found out he was moving to Oakland. It was the happiest day of David's life: he gets even with Rosco when he gets sent to reform school and he escapes his clutches once and for all. Fast- forward about 25 years later. Rosco is a passive middle school tech teacher living with his trashy family. David is a single parent who hasn't found much commercial success with his acclaimed books. He accepts a creative writing teaching position at his old school. After seeing his son bully a geeky kid, David realizes that the geek's father is Rosco. When Rosco also discovers that David is back, Rosco gets carried away with reenacting pranks from when they were kids. Their immaturity grows and things get out of hand, leading to David getting suspended. After David confesses to Rosco that he turned him in for stealing the rock, Rosco's recent string of hazings turn more serious.

I know that this may be a bit of a long summary, but that's because almost each and every component that makes up this film is nice. Its not great, but certainly not bad. The jokes aren't stupid, just not laughable. In comparison with other recent comedies, this IS great and IS hilarious. But at the heart of the film are two dudes that have unfinished business. I would say that the only major flaw that this movie has is when David and Rosco finally make up. Other than that, I found just about every scene to be believable and the development and chemistry between the two leads to be fine.

I think that remaking this would be good.

3/4