Greetings again from the darkness. What a total waste of a cool cast. Having never read Elmore Leonard's novel, I can't say whether the movie butchered the book or not. I can say that this is an extremely unfunny, poorly made movie with a ridiculous story that had me flashing back to those Elvis in Hawaii movies ... only without the charm and music! Director George Armitage ("Miami Blues", "Grosse Point Blank") either hated the story or called in sick everyday. Supermodel Sara Foster lacks the acting chops for her vital role in this triple-crossing fiasco. Talented screen veterans Morgan Freeman and Gary Sinise are totally wasted in this and comics Owen Wilson, Bebe Neuwirth and Charlie Sheen require some funny material to work their magic. Have I mentioned that the script was awful? Everytime I got my hopes up, I was left feeling empty. The domino game with Freeman, Wilson, Willie Nelson and Harry Dean Stanton could have been a classic scene, but instead fell flat. Even an early scene with football heroes Tony Dorsett, Mike Renfro and Pete Johnson goes nowhere because they are just treated as window dressing. When a movie wastes Vinnie Jones ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels") we know it has nothing going for it. The scenes of Hawaii and the beautiful shoreline and water are the only good things to be taken from this.

Jack Ryan (Owen Wilson) is a charming petty criminal starting anew in Hawaii. He gets fired from Ray Ritchie (Gary Sinise)'s construction site after nailing supervisor Lou Harris (Vinnie Jones) with a bat. The construction is being protested by Hawaiian locals. Ritchie's flunky Bob Rogers Jr. (Charlie Sheen) warns him not to go back. District Judge Walter Crewes (Morgan Freeman) is not a fan of Ritchie. Frank Pizzarro (Gregory Sporleder) is his low life friend desperate for money. Richie's trophy girlfriend Nancy Hayes (Sara Foster) finds him fascinating and wants him in a scheme to steal $200k from Ritchie.

This movie tries so very hard to be light and breezy. It's taking the Hawaiian surf and sands too seriously. Owen Wilson is using all his boyish charm. Sara Foster is an amateur actor. She's not much more than a body that talks. Together the material becomes as light as a feature. There is no depth here. There is no tension. The danger doesn't feel dangerous. It's all sunshine and bikinis. The story and schemes meander in its leisurely time. The tone is so light that it is actually quite boring.

The small time crook and surfer Jack Ryan (Owen Wilson) moves to Hawaii, where he has an infatuation on the slut Nancy Hayes (Sara Foster),the lover of the powerful constructor Ray Ritchie (Gary Sinise). Nancy convinces Jack to steal US$ 200,000.00 from Ray. What will happen to him?

"The Big Bounce" is a very silly story, with characters badly developed in a story with many plot points. The great and charming cast, having names such as Morgan Freeman, Willie Nelson, Charlie Sheen, Vinnie Jones, Harry Dean Stanton and Bebe Neuwirth, is completely wasted in a dull screenplay full of twists in wonderful locations in Hawaii. This movie can only be recommended in a raining and cold day in winter with no other option of leisure. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Golpe" ("The Bounce")