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Big Business (1988)

Cute little funny movie with Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler.

The Divine Miss M was a pudgy little thing - but charming in this movie.

Lily Tomlin was adorable too.

by Anonymousreply 92June 28, 2019 2:17 PM

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie. A couple friends and I quote from it constantly.

"Lets go kick some Yankee ASS!"

by Anonymousreply 1July 24, 2010 2:55 PM

And Fred Ward was totally hot .....

by Anonymousreply 2July 24, 2010 2:56 PM

I don't think she was pudgy in this movie.

I love that random scene where she starts singing on the street with those steel drum players.

And of course, Lily Tomlin doing than snake bit and rattling her bracelet.

by Anonymousreply 3July 24, 2010 2:56 PM

I agree. It was a fun movie.

by Anonymousreply 4July 24, 2010 3:00 PM

Great, fun film...

by Anonymousreply 5July 24, 2010 3:05 PM

I love the scene where she roots for Alexis on Dynasty, just before going into a business meeting herself, all dressed up with huge shoulder pads.

Love Bette in all her 80s films!!

by Anonymousreply 6July 24, 2010 3:10 PM

[quote]And of course, Lily Tomlin doing than snake bit and rattling her bracelet.

YES! The snake bit with her two fingers, especially when she does it in her sleep.

by Anonymousreply 7July 24, 2010 3:14 PM

Lord, I carry a heavy load.

by Anonymousreply 8July 24, 2010 3:37 PM

love the two gay guys...and the blonde guy's reaction to Roone.

by Anonymousreply 9July 24, 2010 3:38 PM

Look, a sink in the living room.%0D %0D That's what the French call a bidet.%0D %0D The French must be taller than me.

by Anonymousreply 10July 24, 2010 4:11 PM

Love when the all the girls finally meet in the bathroom. Laugh just thinking about their reactions.

by Anonymousreply 11July 24, 2010 4:28 PM

"Is this how we dress for the office? You look like a blood clot."

by Anonymousreply 12July 24, 2010 7:19 PM

How did Bette and Lily get along on the set?

by Anonymousreply 13July 24, 2010 7:57 PM

I could watch Bette sing "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" all day.

by Anonymousreply 14July 24, 2010 8:03 PM

After all these years my partner and I still do the bracelet-shake, finger-snake-fang business Tomlin did. Hilarious.

by Anonymousreply 15July 24, 2010 8:04 PM

Got on my Tuesday panties, but I guess ya knew that, too.

by Anonymousreply 16July 24, 2010 8:04 PM

R13

They clashed over gay marriage.

by Anonymousreply 17July 24, 2010 8:04 PM

"Eurotrash!"

by Anonymousreply 18July 24, 2010 8:17 PM

For years, my roommates and I would trill, "Snacktiiiiiime!" whenever we went to get a snack.

by Anonymousreply 19July 24, 2010 8:17 PM

You git that kimono in 'Nam?

No, Fire Island.

by Anonymousreply 20July 24, 2010 8:31 PM

It's Pod people!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 21July 24, 2010 10:05 PM

For R3.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 22July 24, 2010 10:15 PM

Lily's boyfriend had the hottest ass!

by Anonymousreply 23July 24, 2010 11:17 PM

They cut ALL the musical numbers too short in that movie. I know it wasn't a musical but it wasn't much else either and it wouldn't have hurt it to have longer interludes. Ya got Bette Midler fer chrissakes, use her.

by Anonymousreply 24July 25, 2010 2:20 AM

The MEITEING,why are you worrying about the MEITEING!

by Anonymousreply 25July 25, 2010 2:28 AM

I've never heard of this movie. I don't think it exists.

by Anonymousreply 26July 25, 2010 2:36 AM

"They're pod people!"%0D "I was at the premiere."

by Anonymousreply 27July 25, 2010 3:02 AM

My God it's not me with the bad haircut!

by Anonymousreply 28July 25, 2010 3:40 AM

LOve the bit with Lily losing her shoulder pad down her sleeve!%0D %0D This was the funniest movie made in Hollywood since Tootsie and there hasn't been one as funny since.

by Anonymousreply 29July 25, 2010 4:26 AM

Lily is exceptional in this flick, creating two totally different - and believable - characters.

Also shows off her gifts for creating great comedy with simple props - the shoulder pad, snake bracelet, etc.

And, she's believable as TWO straight women who get their men!

Pffft to the notion gays can't play str8!

by Anonymousreply 30July 25, 2010 4:33 AM

I adore Lilly Tomlin but I heard she's a bitch in real life. Is this true?

by Anonymousreply 31July 25, 2010 4:48 AM

I thought it was unfunny in that louder=funnier (but without the laffs) sort of way. I remember thinking at the time, "I know where they seem to want me to laugh, but nothing's funny!"

by Anonymousreply 32July 25, 2010 6:09 AM

Yes and it didn't generally get good reviews r32. Just another movie that benefits from DL's revisionist bad taste. "She Devil" is also considered a laugh-riot classic here, and by many of the same people, no doubt.

by Anonymousreply 33July 25, 2010 6:15 AM

Wow, I'd forgotten all about this movie. I agree with R32. I went in wanting to love it and was disappointed at how dull and simple-minded it was. You expect something sharp and sophisticated from these two but this movie was dumbed way down. %0D %0D There was one funny moment when rich-Bette overheard Lily's fiance talk on the phone about how nauseated Bette made him feel and she barked into the line, "well take a purge!"%0D %0D I remember how Tomlin and Midler talked about pairing off as a comic team a la Laurel and Hardy and calling their duo BOOBS, with a whole series of films -- "Boobs Go to Hollywood," "Boobs at Sea," etc.

by Anonymousreply 34July 25, 2010 6:47 AM

R25, that's my quote that I throw out anytime someone mentions the word meeting.

Love the way Bette played that.

I also know many gays who do the bracelet shake and the finger fangs!

by Anonymousreply 35July 25, 2010 7:12 AM

I pretty much agree with r 34. And I always root for the evil big city slickers to triumph over the sticky small townies.

by Anonymousreply 36July 25, 2010 7:31 AM

Also shows off her gifts for creating great comedy with simple props - the shoulder pad, snake bracelet, etc.

And the bit when she got a chunk of muffin caught in her front teeth.

All this talk about 'revisionist' views. I loved the movie then and I love it now. Time hasn't changed my opinion of this movie.

by Anonymousreply 37July 25, 2010 10:05 AM

Try the Y. Hicks always stay at the Y.

by Anonymousreply 38July 25, 2010 11:45 AM

Fred Ward was very sexy.

by Anonymousreply 39July 25, 2010 12:56 PM

Really unrealistic recreation of the interior of The Plaza Hotel.

by Anonymousreply 40July 25, 2010 6:16 PM

"Would you care to join us for dinner, Roone?"

"Sure. Why not. I could go for a tuny fish sandwich."

by Anonymousreply 41July 25, 2010 6:43 PM

1988, I tried to sell this movie to everyone I knew and at work because I thought it was clever and so much fun. NOBODY went -- it was a bomb.

by Anonymousreply 42July 25, 2010 6:47 PM

[quote]it was a bomb.

Not really, it grossed $40 million and was number 27 for the year of all the movies released that year. It made more then the Oscar winners "The Accused" and "The Accidental Tourist"

by Anonymousreply 43July 25, 2010 9:21 PM

"I don't see how is it that you, my own sister, can stuff your face and nothing happens and I subsist on 60 calories a day or else blow up like a Macy's Day float!"

by Anonymousreply 44July 26, 2010 1:49 AM

Why haven't they made this into a Broadway musical yet?

by Anonymousreply 45July 26, 2010 1:55 AM

[quote]Why haven't they made this into a Broadway musical yet?

Seriously? How many twins are there on Broadway?

by Anonymousreply 46July 26, 2010 2:05 AM

I wonder if Lily and Bette thought they could get Oscar nominations by playing twins?

by Anonymousreply 47July 26, 2010 2:20 AM

I can play twins.

I can, I can, I can!

by Anonymousreply 48July 26, 2010 2:22 AM

Bad reviews?

Not from Vincent Canby.

And I adored him.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 49July 26, 2010 2:28 AM

Seriously, just the very idea of Bette and Lily as a mismatched set of twin sisters is a brilliant concept! Can't you imagine the pitch to the studios?

by Anonymousreply 50July 26, 2010 11:01 AM

Bette Midler was never as charming or as funny as she thought she was.

by Anonymousreply 51July 26, 2010 11:24 AM

[quote]Seriously? How many twins are there on Broadway? Damn, I wish I had thought that far ahead.

by Anonymousreply 52July 26, 2010 11:38 AM

[quote] Seriously? How many twins are there on Broadway?

That must be why we haven't seen a Side Show revival yet!

How many sets of conjoined twins are there on Broadway?!

by Anonymousreply 53July 26, 2010 11:39 AM

If R44 is a sample of the writing, I think I can live without seeing this.

by Anonymousreply 54July 26, 2010 11:53 AM

[quote]If [R44] is a sample of the writing

I'm pretty sure that r44 is a person.

by Anonymousreply 55July 26, 2010 12:00 PM

Fred Ward's ass was a sight to see.

by Anonymousreply 56July 26, 2010 12:51 PM

[quote]I'm pretty sure that [R44] is a person.%0D %0D Obviously, someone hasn't seen the film.%0D %0D Third from top hon.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 57July 26, 2010 12:57 PM

Bette Midler is a riot in this.

I wish she'd do films like Big Business and Ruthless People and Down & Out in Beverly Hills again.

She was so good in the 80s.

by Anonymousreply 58July 26, 2010 1:07 PM

you look like a blood clot!

by Anonymousreply 59July 26, 2010 1:11 PM

It would be typical of the idiocy of Broadway to attempt to do this film as a musical today. %0D %0D Unlike shows from Comedy of Errors down to Boys From Syracuse to Side Show, the comedy that runs the engine in Big Business is casting two familiar stars who are NOTHING alike as mismatched twins and then watching them play each other's identical twin. %0D %0D Casting 4 non-stars to accomplish this on Broadway would make no sense.

by Anonymousreply 60July 26, 2010 1:19 PM

That gay guy in the movie with the hairy chest and wearing boxer shorts was handsome -- anyone know who he is?

by Anonymousreply 61July 26, 2010 1:58 PM

I eat my own feces.

by Anonymousreply 62July 26, 2010 2:14 PM

[quote]Obviously, someone hasn't seen the film.

No, cupcake.

What's obvious is that r44 is a person.

r44 posted a quote.

r44 is not a sample of the writing.

"If [R44] is a sample of the writing, I think I can live without seeing this."

Wrong.

"If the quote posted by r44 is an example of the writing..."

Right.

Got it?

by Anonymousreply 63July 26, 2010 11:43 PM

The meet-in'?

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 64July 27, 2012 12:25 AM

You look like a blood clot!

by Anonymousreply 65July 27, 2012 1:39 AM

the fx were amazing

by Anonymousreply 66July 27, 2012 4:52 AM

Eurotrash !

by Anonymousreply 67July 27, 2012 5:17 AM

I hate men who smell like bean dip. And I hate making love in the back of recreational vehicles!

by Anonymousreply 68March 7, 2014 2:56 AM

Why bring back this thread?

Really dumb, low-brow TVish comedy film that did not do well critically or commercially.

by Anonymousreply 69March 7, 2014 3:04 AM

Edward Herrmann and Daniel Gerroll were kinda hot as the gay couple.

by Anonymousreply 70March 7, 2014 6:04 AM

"That's a mighty fine looking kimono. Did you get it in 'Nam?"

"Fire Island."

by Anonymousreply 71March 7, 2014 1:45 PM

That really was a fun movie. I think I have it on a VHS tape somewhere.

by Anonymousreply 72March 7, 2014 2:51 PM

It is on-demand this month (at least on comcast cable).

I really love this movie no matter what.

by Anonymousreply 73March 3, 2015 1:38 AM

The late Ed Herrmann was in this too.

by Anonymousreply 74March 3, 2015 1:42 AM

Remember when SCENES FROM A MALL was anticipated as a big laugh-riot as it starred Bette with Woody Allen?

by Anonymousreply 75March 3, 2015 1:46 AM

Bumping this because I'm watching it now on one of the HBOs. I'd also love to know how Bette and Lily got along while making this. Bette is famous for not getting along with co-stars and not shy about saying so but Lily is pretty demanding as well. Have either of them ever talked about the movie since it came out?

by Anonymousreply 76June 23, 2019 10:36 PM

R50 Apparently it was originally supposed to be Barbra Streisand and Goldie Hawn. Which would never have been as good. I remember this was one of my family's favorite films when I was a child, but I haven't seen it in forever.

by Anonymousreply 77June 23, 2019 10:48 PM

I got to get me some of them press-on nails!

by Anonymousreply 78June 23, 2019 10:51 PM

Don't say toilet say Kiki.

by Anonymousreply 79June 23, 2019 10:59 PM

Hulu played this after, don’t tell mom the babysitter is dead(which I had to see again after the thread here) I thought this was hilarious. Michael Gross was pretty hot back then.

by Anonymousreply 80June 27, 2019 11:03 AM

This was released during Bette’s insane hot streak with Touchstone Pictures/Disney. She really had a remarkable string of hits and this was maybe her last one during this era. It was a modest hit and signaled there was a little fatigue happening on the Bette front.

by Anonymousreply 81June 27, 2019 11:14 AM

R21 The harpo/lucy inspired scene had me laugh crying.

by Anonymousreply 82June 27, 2019 11:31 AM

[quote]I'd also love to know how Bette and Lily got along while making this.

I don't remember where I heard this, so take it with a grain of salt. But supposedly they did not get along because of their different working styles. Tomlin is meticulous and always prepared. Midler is more improvisational. Tomlin came to Midler with an idea for some business in a scene and Midler blew it off, saying she just wouldn't remember it in the moment.

However, Tomlin said the ice eventually thawed somewhat and they did crack each other up.

by Anonymousreply 83June 27, 2019 12:03 PM

OMG Fred Ward! That’s all I remember!

by Anonymousreply 84June 27, 2019 2:41 PM

Rose: I have a right to my own feelings Sadie and I am not a twit. I may be pre-periodic and I may be hysterical. So what?

Sadie: So there are drugs for those things and we make most of them!

by Anonymousreply 85June 27, 2019 3:10 PM

Oh man I want to watch this right now, it's one of my favorites and I haven't watched it in a few years. I still quote lines from it all the time -- "I gotta get me some of them Lee Press On Nails. Do those things stay on? I wouldn't want 'em FLOPPIN' OFF at any of them FANCY NIGHTCLUBS!"

by Anonymousreply 86June 27, 2019 3:22 PM

Midler is only chubby here when you compare her to how thin she is in "The Rose."

by Anonymousreply 87June 27, 2019 3:27 PM

The Devil Wears Prada plagiarized Sadie’s entrance

by Anonymousreply 88June 28, 2019 5:26 AM

Love all of Bette's comedy films and also her very short-lived sitcom.

by Anonymousreply 89June 28, 2019 6:14 AM

“Oh, we're just going to keep driving until we hit someone's pig”

by Anonymousreply 90June 28, 2019 7:17 AM

The best was the two gay men hosting ROONE, doing push ups shirtless in his pj bottoms...while they looked on in sexual lust lol..ROOOONE

by Anonymousreply 91June 28, 2019 2:10 PM

Fred Ward was a hot actor. "Silkwood," "Tremors," "Big Business." Does he show peen in "Henry and June?"

by Anonymousreply 92June 28, 2019 2:17 PM
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