ClassyWas
Excellent, smart action film.
Curapedi
I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
KnotStronger
This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
dshenderson
I loved "The Big Tease." I have watched it several times, and find it more entertaining each time. I recently read a quote of Craig Ferguson's in a Reel.com interview, saying that the movie somewhat parallels his experience in Hollywood. He said, "it is an exact mirror image of the show business that I know. I believe that the story in the movie is my story in America," and when asked how Crawford's experience in America paralleled with his own, Craig replied, "It's exactly the same...it is very similar to my own experience. That is where the story comes from." I watched the movie today for the first time since reading these comments, which Craig made about 7 years ago, and find that there are more similarities than he could have foreseen at the time. Part of the sharp satire on insider Hollywood revolves around getting a break because of whom you know. In the movie, Crawford comes to L.A. as a well-established hairstylist in Scotland (the "Red Adair of hair"), and manages to connect with the right people, beginning with Eamon the limo driver and Candy the publicist, which in turn leads to a series of connections with other key people and opportunities: an amusement park animal costume fur-dressing gig, the continuing antagonistic yet crucial interactions with Monique and Stig, a lunch date with Drew Carey that takes Crawford's credibility to the next level, and a meeting with the Senator who finally allows him to compete in the W.H.I.F Hair-Off. Throughout these events and introductions, Crawford must pay his dues, often feeling humiliated in the process, yet always managing to make the best of the situation. I don't pretend to know all the details of Craig's rise to fame, but he was already an established comedian well-known in the U.K., then came to the U.S. and obscurity. After paying his dues here and there, he got a break as Mr. Wick on "The Drew Carey Show." Drew Carey is the equivalent of Candy in this movie, giving stability to Craig's career, and enough required time on the set but not in front of the camera to begin writing, thus marking his breakthrough into the roles of writer, producer, and finally director with the critically acclaimed "I'll Be There." Craig Ferguson's big break as host of CBS's "The Late Late Show" is similar to Crawford's walk-on success in the competition for the Platinum Scissors award. Craig has not yet been crowned the king of late-night, but I have a feeling that some of the other late-night hosts are feeling very much the same as the other three Hair-Off competitors, wondering, "Who is this Scottish guy, and who could have guessed he had so much talent?" One interesting scene in particular shows the obvious pride Crawford feels when he finally obtains his H.A.G. card, a pride which Craig will soon share when he obtains a U.S. passport upon becoming a citizen of his adopted country. The parallels to Craig's current situation are easy to see, and I think that "The Big Tease" may portend the huge success that Craig has yet to attain in Hollywood and with the ranks of late-night fans. Like Crawford, Craig is determined to reach the pinnacle of his profession, and he has forced industry insiders to sit up and take notice of him. Just like Crawford, Craig was born to this.
george.schmidt
THE BIG TEASE (2000) ** Craig Ferguson, Frances Fisher, Mary McCormack, David Rasche, Chris Langham, Donal Logue, Larry Miller, Jay Thomas. (Cameos: Veronica Webb, Drew Carey, David Hasselhoff, Cathy Lee Crosby, Bruce Jenner)Blame it on `This Is Spinal Tap' for the unindation of the `mockumentary', the hybrid of comedy and documentary unto its own genre, for the latest attempt of poking fun with deadpan serious masking with the occasionally humorous `The Big Tease'.Crawford Mackenzie (Craig Ferguson, best known as the unctuous British boss on tv's `The Drew Carey Show', who also co-wrote the screenplay with Sacha Gervasi) has more moxie than anyone would expect from a somewhat flamboyant Scottish hairdresser who finds himself the subject of a BBC documentary filmmaker (Langham who gives the air of deadpan a new definition) and is invited by the industry's high echelon the World International Hairdressing Federation (aka WHIF) to Los Angeles for the annual World Freestyle Hairdressing Championship. In his own charming way Crawford embarks to Lotus Land thinking he's to represent Glasgow as a competitor but is soon informed by WHIF's oraganizer Monique Geingold (McCormack, who has the uncanny knack in being a real phony with comic aplomb) he was invited to be in the audience. Not taking no for an answer the indefatigable Scotsman attempts to get his HAG card (that's Hairdressers of America Guild) by any means necessary even resorting to his competition, the pompous ass Nordic god of the salon set, Stig Ludwiggssen (Rasche, a good sport hooligan in a ridiculous hair extensioned wig), who dismisses him like a knot in one's hair.Adding some gumption and support to Mackenzie's starry-eyed quest is high powered Hollywood publicist Candy Harper (the wonderfully tart and no bull Fisher) who takes him under her wing after his attempt to get Sean Connery's phone number from her (he once helped the fellow Scot during a windy mishap with his toupee during a Benny Hill Pro/Am Golf outing) and instead gives her a sparkling makeover.. Ferguson - who is so good as the devilishly naughty Mr. Wick on the `Carrey' program - at least gives the impression of having a good time onscreen (and it shows) which seems to bounce off nicely from his assembled cast including veteran stand up comic Miller as a recovering alcoholic manager of a posh Beverly Hills hotel (`I've been clean and sober for five.days'), McCormack - best known as Howard Stern's long-suffering wife in `Private Parts' - is a charming bitch with not one honest bone in her well manicured body, and Logue as a player wanna be limo driver is memorable.Funny in its execution but gradually losing its bearing in the climactic `hair off' - for a lack of a better term - the film's concept seems one note and often has the unkindly air of flop sweat with its too lingering shots on the desperate hair stylist in his dream becoming a nightmare.
Mike Carroll
There's something indefinable about this movie that I adore... I don't know whether it's the superb performances by Ferguson and Langham, or the great script, or the wonderful camoes (Larry Miller is a genius)...Whatever it is, this is a great movie - one of those movies that you want to watch over and over. Why isn't Craig Ferguson a bigger star? Just comparing his role in this movie with his "Mr Wick" character on the Drew Carey show proves that he's one of the most versatile and engaging actors around.
sjdean
This film is similar in style to This is Spinal Tap, they've even paid tribute to some of the classic scenes from the Spinal Tap movie.Following a Scottish hairdresser trying to get into a competition, the film is a huge laugh, but not as big as I would have hoped. Unfortunately it just gets a bit too thin on the ground on occasions, and you're just hoping that there will be some joke soon.That aside you cant complain. Even Sara Gilbert is in it!
