Big Stan (2007)

This Film is bad. But so bad that it's funny? Or so so bad it should be avoided?

So you are The Masters number one. I didn't see that one coming(!)



This film has a few good points, and a few too many bad points. The story follows the life of Stan, a man who made lots of money ripping off people. Within the first few minutes he has been arrested and found guilty of fraud, quickly moving the story on to its main plot point used throughout the film. Literally. It is used from this point on until the last couple of minutes. And what could that be ladies and gentlemen? What else could it be? A man is off to prison in America. Anal rape. That is what. The first section of the film is how he is trying to get ready for it, including buying his wife a dildo so he can 'share the first time with someone he loves'. He soon comes across a man known only as 'The Master' who teaches him martial arts to protect himself. Until he is actually sent to prison there is only one funny point.

The Master: Next time use more tongue. 
Stan: That's what she said.

Yes I am childish, No I don't care. Until this point I was seriously wondering why I was even watching this film.

Once the training properly starts there are a few montages bits and too many humorous 'training' scenes which are (once again) failing to be funny. They aren't all wasted as some of them do come back into story line later on, and some do get a laugh at these later points.

When he is finally in prison things take a turn for the worst. The opening prison scene, as with many other parts of this film, are meant to be controversial humour or pointing out how wrong some things are, such as the racism the use of Nazis (Yes, Nazis. That's how bad it gets). These Nazis aren't even subtle. One has a massive swastika tattooed all over his chest with the words 'White power' and another has the imperial eagle on his (See the picture below).

Nazi's. Everywhere. And these aren't played down. They are designed to be funny, but to be honest, they are just offensive. It felt like they were always one step away from performing a Nazi salute. 

There are many points when the script tries to get a laugh and fails. I am sure many people have been offended by the 'humour' that this film shows. The anti-racism remarks are so poor they become borderline racist and the gay scenes just feel completely homophobic. They have several points (even before the prison part) that gay people are present, and none are your average person. They seem it at first, but when you find out they are gay, their personality changes completely.

The acting in this film is often as bad as the script, but there are some actors who do a really good job. And no, it isn't Rob Schnider, who plays Stan himself. The Master is played by David Carradine, a man known for being in martial arts films. He even played Bill in Kill Bill. Unfortunately this film feel like a step down from all the other films he has been in. Also Jackson Rathbone plays Robbie, the poor, weak boy who all the other men take a fancy to. His character actually seems to create a third dimension to Stan, and really helps to improve the quality of this film. Both Carradine and Rathbone give good performances with Rathbone being the better. This, though, it manly due to the fact that The Master is given a comic role where as Robbie is given a serious one.

The few points where this film is funny and a slightly interesting plot twist save it from being a complete failure. The story line is predictable and boring. The action scenes are full of quick cuts and sound effects that makes the film sound like the Batman and Robin film. Not a good thing. The quality of acting, as well as the script, varies massively though out the film. That, and the fact the film can't pick one mood and stick to it, making the whole experience inconsistent.

Rating: 4.6/10