BIGFOOT - DVD review

In October 1967, Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin shot a film at Bluff Creek, CA depicting a large hairy creature walking past some rocks and brush. Over 40 years later, its authenticity is still debated by scientists, animal lovers and skeptics. Others believe the creature was the real thing, but just what that real "thing" was has never been determined.

Most folks relate this discussion to the legendary Bigfoot creature, a character said to be between seven and twelve feet tall and weigh between 500 and 1,000 pounds. I'd argue that, along with crop circles and the Roswell incident, Bigfoot is the best known suspected hoax. But just because something may or may not be real doesn't mean it can't be fun.

Enter "Bigfoot," a simple but well made and easy to watch family film from Image Entertainment. There isn't much fluff or fancy stuff in the movie, and it doesn't need it to work as an entertaining story you can enjoy, regardless of age. There's little profanity, sex, violence or other immoral things that tend to linger in films where teenagers are the primary characters. While I don't think it's super significant in American cinema, it was a pleasant change.

Perhaps the best known Hollywood take on Bigfoot was 1987's "Harry and the Hendersons." John Lithgow and Melinda Dillon encounter a Bigfoot-esque creature and, after a freak accident, take him in, only to take a unique liking to the guy. It's heartfelt and warm, as is "Bigfoot." How interesting that a creature so foreign to man has such a luring and attracting impact. "Harry and the Hendersons" is the better film if you look at how it's made and executed, but "Bigfoot" has more than its fair share going for it.

Percy Caldwell (Adam B. Raque) has some issues. He's the "stinky kid" in his freshman class (not super popular, somewhat nerdy, quiet and mild-mannered), with his best pal Leonard (Kenyon R. Dudley) always by his side, be it for humor, advice or music playing. Percy's parents, Brooke (Angie Everhart) and David (Richard Tyson, who I really only remembered as the bad guy in "Kindergarten Cop"), worry about their son now and again. His grades aren't spectacular, and despite giving him everything he could want (their home is nothing short of a mansion), his attention is elsewhere, specifically on a cute girl, Madison (Nicole Badaan). She's the girl you set your sights for, but know it's a long shot no matter what you do.

One day, Madison is harassed by two local yucks, Devlin (Andrew Chase) and Cletis (Brandon Gibson). Percy comes to her rescue, and as he flees the bad guys, stumbles on Bigfoot in the woods. He's been displaced by a wildfire, and has come closer to the domestic woods than ever before. Percy is so freaked out when running away that he slips and lodges his foot between some big rocks, only to have Bigfoot pick them up like Tinker Toys and toss them aside. After Bigfoot scarfs down a PowerBar from Percy's backpack, the two separate.

The next day, Madison tells Percy that he is her new boyfriend. Like a deer in headlights, he gazes at her and agrees to come to a benefit concert for those displaced by the recent fire. After leaving school, he goes back into the woods to see Bigfoot, only to bump into Delvin and Cletis as they hunt for bears. Bigfoot makes it away in one piece, but Delivn and Cletis devise a plan to capture him and extort as much money and publicity as possible from his star power.

Meanwhile, Madison sings a song about love and desire on stage in front of the entire school, and invites herself to Percy's house to watch a movie. She has good taste, and the pair unsurprisingly watch the original "King Kong" (1933). But when Percy tries to share his secret with her, she doesn't buy in. Leonard does, though, and the pair seek Bigfoot out, but discover he's being hunted by the country bumpkins. They tranquilize Bigfoot and lock him in a barn, but after some coaxing, Percy, Madison and Leonard save the day.

Bigfoot is accidentally shot in the chaos, and Percy's father (who just happens to be a surgeon) is asked to patch the creature up. As Percy's parents and friends try to drive the family RV into the woods to release him, Delvin and Cletis chase them down. A small chase leads to a vehicle rollover and Bigfoot's successful return to his home.

Now, while wholesome, "Bigfoot" has some interesting moments. Delvin and Cletis are portrayed as ignorant, uneducated and generally useless. It's funny, but might give the wrong impression, especially considering Percy and the other characters clearly live lives of privilege. Madison is about the most aggressive teenage girl I've ever seen. How often do you get told you're someone's significant other, especially by the person who you'd kill to have say that to you? Her concert performance is slightly suggestive, but not to the point you'll need to cover eyes and ears during the film. Percy's parents don't do any real parenting in the film either. If you have kids, would you take in a seven foot tall hairy fellow with a gunshot wound who rolled up in a beat up pickup your underage son drove across town with his two friends? A real no brainer, I'd say.

I suppose these are minor elements in the film's larger scope, but they're worth noting. What "Bigfoot" does well is keep Percy's relationship with the creature as the main point throughout the story. It easily could have become a tale about his rejecting his family and friends for Madison, or about a rebellious teen getting rid of all he knows and has to go down his own road and make friends with Bigfoot. Instead, it offers a small glimpse into these areas, but doesn't turn off its main highway. This balance and direction are what make the film work.

I was slightly disappointed that the film, titled "Bigfoot," doesn't give the creature any real billing beyond its name. There was a person playing Bigfoot (or was there…?), but I couldn't find an actor or actress name online or in the film's credits. Plus, Bigfoot doesn't get significant screen time until the film's halfway point. He does fulfill traditional depictions you'd think up about the creature, and stays entertaining and humorous throughout. And, I suppose he's pretty genuine, especially with the kids.

The film has a good message and is pretty pleasant to watch. I don't know how much staying power it will have, or if it's worth watching more than once. Still, you'll get a laugh and likely enjoy the way the characters come together for something bigger than themselves.

Video:
"Bigfoot" has a pretty solid video transfer to DVD. The 1.78:1 theatrical aspect ratio is enhanced and extremely bright and crisp. The film has a disproportionate amount of sun thanks to its southern California setting, and the natural light is used very well throughout. The characters (who all look far too clean and perfect, with no hair[s] out of place) are vibrant enough, and Bigfoot's hairy exterior seems to sparkle in all those sunrays.

Audio:
Words and dialogue come through just fine in "Bigfoot," but the background noise isn't horribly convincing. There's a few car chases, growling and some general disarray that you can see but don't fully experience. Still, the Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack holds its own, and the film offers subtitles in English and Spanish. The musical selections are about what you'd expect from a film with three teen leads, minus the profanity and bass.

Extras:
Pretty bare bones. We're given the theatrical trailer, a behind the scenes feature and a booper reel during the end credits. If this weren't a family film, maybe they could include some images from the thousands that claim to be depicting the real Bigfoot. Some amateur videos would be cool too, yes? The Patterson-Gimlin film is maybe 30 seconds…

A Final Word:
I doubt "Bigfoot" will win any major awards for cinematic achievements, but it will probably be enjoyable if you have kids and want them to see something pretty wholesome. It's surprisingly well made, and puts a new update on what some might argue is the world's most famous suspected hoax. My guess is you'll have fun. I did.