Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie''s plot.
I'll say it straight off … this is a terrific movie that I've watched many times. I own the DVD of Big Business. Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler play twins mixed up at birth, which results in a few small problems and one huge mess.
Brief Plot Description
A poor family lives in the wilds of Jupiter Hollow, and the wife is about to give birth. A rich man and his wife are traveling through Jupiter Hollow, and his wife goes into labor. Both pregnant women are in the same rural hospital, and give birth to twin girls. The nurse mixes the twins, giving each mother one of her own and one from the other mother. To complicate matters, both sets of twins are given the same first names (blame one unimaginative father who overheard the naming of the other set of twins). Bette Midler's characters are named Sadie, while Lily Tomlin's are named Rose.
Flash forward when the twins are grown women. In the big city (New York), Bette Midler plays a high-powered, hard-as-nails executive of Moramax. Lily Tomlin, her sister, is gentle and out of place as co-executive of the company. Meanwhile, in the country, Bette Midler is a small-town girl with big city dreams. Lily Tomlin as her sister has the backbone of the family and the grit to fight for what is right.
The crisis occurs when the big city Bette Midler decides to close the factory in Jupiter Hollow. The factory is the livelihood of the town. Country girl Lily Tomlin is taking the fight to save Jupiter Hollow to the city … directly to the designer shoes of big city mean-as-mean can be Bette Midler. Now the fun begins!!
My Experiences
I love this movie and laugh every time I watch it. Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin are fantastic at playing the two sets of twins. They manage to capture nuances in each twin so that all four characters are completely different. Just watching their mannerisms and even hearing the speech patterns, there is no mistaking which twin is which, despite their look-alike appearances.
The supporting cast matches Midler and Tomlin line for line, too. This is a strong movie with accomplished actors. It also is flush with subplots that tangle together so that one wonders if they will ever separate to a satisfying conclusion. Don't worry. This movie has an excellent ending.
Speaking of subplots … Fred Ward plays Roone, a professional miniature golf champion who is in love with the country Lily Tomlin. When Lily goes harrying off to the city to battle corporate greed, Roone is hot on her trail with hilarious results.
Meanwhile … Michael Gross plays Dr. Marshall, who has an unhappy past history with the hard-as-nails big city Bette Midler. When he accidentally mistakes the country Bette Milder for his ex-wife, things become interesting. A young Seth Green makes an appearance as their son Jason.
More comedic relief is found in the big city Bette Midler's two flunkies, Graham and Chuck. No matter how hard they try to please the impossible-to-please Bette, circumstances race beyond their control. It doesn't help that both sets of twins end up staying at the same New York hotel and mistaken identity is as unavoidable as it is hilarious.
The filming of this movie is expertly contrived. The special effects of both sets of twins appearing on screen at the same time are brilliant. This movie keeps pace with the action in a non-stop riot of mix-ups. There isn't a single weak spot or dull moment.
The Cast
Bette Midler as Sadie Ratliff / Sadie Shelton (movies: First Wives Club, Ruthless People)
Lily Tomlin as Rose Ratliff / Rose Shelton (movies: 9 to 5, The Kid)
Fred Ward as Roone Dimmick (movies: Tremors, Remo Williams)
Edward Hermann as Graham Sherbourne (movies: The Aviator, Richie Rich)
Daniel Geroll as Chuck (movies: A Far Off Place)
Michael Gross as Dr. Jay Marshall (movies: Tremors, Prehistoric)
Seth Green as Jason (movies: The Italian Job, Rat Race)
Mary Gross as Judy (movies: Practical Magic, Troop Beverly Hills)
Director: Jim Abrahams (movies: Ruthless People, Airplane)
Purchasing & Specifications
The moment this DVD became available, I bought it through Amazon.com for around $10.00.
This 1988 film features Dolby Surround Sound, is Digitally Mastered, and is Widescreen (1.85:1). Runtime is 98 minutes. This DVD is packaged in a plastic keepcase.
Summary
Need a laugh … watch Big Business. This movie is filled with mix-ups, mistaken identity, greed, honor, true love, adventure, hilarity, more mix-ups, and even a Bette Midler song. I'll be watching it again!
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