Larger than Life (film)

Larger Than Life
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Howard Franklin
Produced by	Pen Densham Richard Barton Lewis John Watson Sue Baden-Powell (executive) Guy East (executive) Wolfgang Glattes (executive)
Written by	Pen Densham (writer) Garry Williams (story) Roy Blount Jr. (screenplay)
Starring	Bill Murray Jeremy Piven Janeane Garofalo Pat Hingle Linda Fiorentino Matthew McConaughey Tai Tony Funderburg
Music by	Miles Goodman
Cinematography	Elliot Davis
Editing by	Sidney Levin
Distributed by	United Artists Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (U.S. DVD)
Release date(s)	November 1, 1996
Running time	93 min.
Language	English
Budget	30,000,000

Larger Than Life is a 1996 comedy film starring Bill Murray.

Plot

Jack Corcoran (Bill Murray) is a motivational speaker for the masses in mini-malls and rented halls across the country. Jack's advice is, "if life isn't all that you expected, put aside all those wouldas, couldas and shouldas and Get over it!" Jack's dad (a father he never knew) was a circus clown and just passed on, leaving his son a hefty inheritance: his 8,000 pound trained circus elephant (Tai) named Vera (after Jack's mother), who comes complete with a trunkful of debts. In order to pay off his debts, Jack decides to sell Vera. The bulk of the movie plays on the problem of traveling 2,000 miles in five days with the 8,000 pound elephant. It's a predicament that is "Larger Than Life."

Cast

• Bill Murray as Jack Corcoran
• Jeremy Piven as Walter
• Janeane Garofalo as Mo
• Pat Hingle as Vernon
• Linda Fiorentino as Terry Bonura
• Matthew McConaughey as Tip Tucker
• Keith David as Hurst
• Tracey Walter as Wee St. Francis
• Harve Presnell as Trowbridge Bowers

Reaction

Box Office

• Domestic: $8,314,392
• Opening Weekend: $3,799,504

Reviews

Critics generally responded with mixed to negative reviews, garnering a 12% score on Rotten Tomatoes and Stephen Holden of New York Times called the vision of the film a mis-fire: "The very idea conjures up visions of classic sight gags in which man and beast fail to communicate, or worse, fail to get along. Think of elegant circus tricks executed in the wrong place at precisely the wrong time. Think of an elephantine stubbornness that makes the most recalcitrant donkey look like an obedient eager beaver. Think of a rampage in a supermarket or a spontaneous grand entrance at a chi-chi social event, and you can begin to see the possibilities".

Entertainment Weekly gave the film a "D" rating and Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote poorly of the script and minor characters "is windy, and the occasional laughs are as heavy-footed as the thunking lead pachyderm herself. Furthermore, a couple of its costars are probably wondering what in the Sam Hill they were thinking when they signed on, since they are singularly ill-used."

ReelViews's James Berardinelli awarded the film 2 and a half out of 4 stars. While noting his appreciation of the comedy routines, he was critical of the acting performances: "Murray did his share of ad-libbing here, which is probably a reason why several of the comic sequences work. Since Murray is simply 'being Murray', there isn't a lot of intensive acting going on. As a result, there are long stretches like watching a standup routine shot on location with a very unusual "straight man".

Roger Ebert awarded the film 1 and a half out of 4 stars and was also critical towards Murray's performance: "the energy isn't there. Murray often chooses to play a laid-back, detached character, but this time he's so detached he's almost absent. He chooses to work in a low key, and the other actors, in matching his energy level, make a movie that drones instead of hums". Yet, Ebert enjoyed the comedy's humor: "Murray's portrait of an inspirational speaker is right on target, and filled out with lots of subtle touches of movement and dialog, and there is humor".

Soundtrack

Larger Than Life: Original United Artists Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	1996
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	30:48
Label	Milan Records 73138357832

#	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Time
1	"Life Is a Carnival"	The Band	Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm	3:55
2	"Psycho"	Jack Kittle	Leon Payne	3:13
3	"Main Title"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	2:28
4	"Salad Bar"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	1:47
5	"Dad's Trunck"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	2:18
6	"Flying Elephant"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	3:31
7	"An Elephant Miracle"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	2:03
8	"Airport Chase"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	2:59
9	"Swimming"	Miles Goodman	Goodman	2:20
10	"The Magnificent Seven Theme"	Elmer Bernstein	Bernstein	2:46
11	"The Blue Danube"	Johann Strauss	Strauss	3:05

Additional songs in the film not on the soundtrack album

• "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" written by Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and Raymond Jackson performed by The Staple Singers
• "Everybody Loves a Train" written by David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez performed by Los Lobos
• "Hermanos Alou" written by Tiesco Del Rey performed by Tiesco Del Rey
• "Home Sweet Honky Tonk" written by Curtis Wright and T. J. Knight performed by Curtis Wright
• "Just A Lucky So & So" written by Mack David and Duke Ellington performed by Charles Brown
• "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon" written by Richard Hageman
• "We've Only Just Begun" written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols
• "You Made Me Love You" written by Joseph McCarthy and James V. Monaco

External links

• Larger Than Life at the Internet Movie Database
• Larger Than Life at Rotten Tomatoes
• Larger Than Life at Box Office Mojo