Are You a Woman Who Hates 'The Big Lebowski'? Then I Want to Hear From You!
Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Fandom
Let me begin by saying that eventually my friends are no longer going to speak to me about anything movie related, because I inevitably post about it. Sorry, friend -- but thanks for the idea, and I'll buy you a beer the next time we meet.
Months ago, I was talking about the Coen Bros with a guy, and he asked me what I thought of The Big Lebowski. "It's funny," I said. "Why?" I can't remember his exact reply, but it was something along the lines of "All women seem to really hate it / every woman I talk to says its their least favorite."
When I watched it last night his words came back to me, so I tried to watch it from an overly sensitive and critical feminine standpoint, but nothing jumped out as troubling or offensive. Sure, there's some boobs and looking up skirts, but overall it's a movie that I would label "a crowd pleaser." Of course, I have the radical belief that men and women (gasp) largely enjoy the same films. (I should mention that nowhere in our Coen Bros discussion did my friend imply otherwise -- he's not that type of man.)
Just for the heck of it, I googled "women and the Big Lebowski" and found ... nothing. In fact, googling "Big Lebowski sweater pattern" (I'm still trying to find one -- if you've got a pattern, please share it with me) actually turned up a lot of women who were seeking out the sweater for themselves or a loved one. In fact, a lot of women seem to have a very unique relationship with the Dude -- crushing on him while coveting his jelly shoes.
Naturally, I have to put these types of lingering questions to Cinematical readers -- who I fully expect love The Big Lebowski regardless of gender, but I'd like to know if any guy or girl has encountered a gender bias for this film.
Months ago, I was talking about the Coen Bros with a guy, and he asked me what I thought of The Big Lebowski. "It's funny," I said. "Why?" I can't remember his exact reply, but it was something along the lines of "All women seem to really hate it / every woman I talk to says its their least favorite."
When I watched it last night his words came back to me, so I tried to watch it from an overly sensitive and critical feminine standpoint, but nothing jumped out as troubling or offensive. Sure, there's some boobs and looking up skirts, but overall it's a movie that I would label "a crowd pleaser." Of course, I have the radical belief that men and women (gasp) largely enjoy the same films. (I should mention that nowhere in our Coen Bros discussion did my friend imply otherwise -- he's not that type of man.)
Just for the heck of it, I googled "women and the Big Lebowski" and found ... nothing. In fact, googling "Big Lebowski sweater pattern" (I'm still trying to find one -- if you've got a pattern, please share it with me) actually turned up a lot of women who were seeking out the sweater for themselves or a loved one. In fact, a lot of women seem to have a very unique relationship with the Dude -- crushing on him while coveting his jelly shoes.
Naturally, I have to put these types of lingering questions to Cinematical readers -- who I fully expect love The Big Lebowski regardless of gender, but I'd like to know if any guy or girl has encountered a gender bias for this film.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-09-2009 @ 12:43PM
Paul said...
I've actually run across some guys who vehemently hate Lebowski. I think it's safe to say, though, that they are 'haters' who don't give certain movies a chance for whatever reason.
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 12:44PM
Phoebe said...
Thanks for speaking up to say that men and women mostly enjoy the same films! The Big Lebowski is one of my favorites, though I've mostly watched it with my brothers, not (women) friends. Anyway, I sort of doubt women who don't like it actually find it offensive. By contrast, Judd Apatow annoys me no end...
http://www.jinni.com
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 12:54PM
Rain said...
I've heard this argument before, and I kind of fell into the "women hate big lebowski" camp when I first saw it. But then I saw it again, and eventually learned to love it. But a friend once explained why women hate it and men don't thusly: All men want to grow up to be the Dude, and all women are afraid they'll end up marrying someone who will turn into the Dude.
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4-09-2009 @ 12:48PM
Paul said...
I often joke that I married my wife because she was the first woman I'd met who liked Lebowski. One day, she quoted it to me randomly in response to something I'd told her ("that's f*cking interesting").
That's when I knew...
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 1:07PM
Jenn Brown said...
I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't love it, either.
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4-09-2009 @ 1:32PM
Liam said...
You turn "TBL" on in my house when my wife is in the room and she'll blast off to the other tv while saying "that's the stupidest damn movie I've ever seen"! Ahhhh...It's nice to be alone sometimes.... Three cheers for DUDE!
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 2:03PM
Michellek said...
It is in my daughter's top five.
Her and all her girlfriends love it!
So...there's a bunch of 19 year old women for you.
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 1:58PM
Baxter said...
He's wrong. I think it's hilarious. Not only that, a friend of mine, also a woman, won a Big Lebowski trivia contest.
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4-09-2009 @ 2:04PM
alison said...
i learned to love lebowski in high school through endless viewings with my, also female, best friend. we quoted the movie constantly, often to the irritation of male friends whose ignorance we lambasted with a venom rivaling that of mr. sobchak himself. needless to say, your friend is out of his element.
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4-09-2009 @ 2:15PM
Erik Davis said...
My lady hates this film for some reason, too, even though she's never even watched it. I don't get it, I've never tried to get it -- I just do my thing and she does hers.
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4-09-2009 @ 2:19PM
David Rosen said...
I really don't think theres a divide on "The Big Lebowski" between men and women... I think it's simply some people don't "get" it... And I know a hater would come back at me with a whole "it's not that I don't get it it's just that I don't think its very funny" argument, but really, you don't get it, dude or dudette.
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4-09-2009 @ 4:01PM
Bill G said...
I couldn't agree more! Some people just don't have the same sense of humor. Comedies that aren't outright funny can sometimes be blasted.
4-10-2009 @ 8:55AM
GL said...
You got it.
4-09-2009 @ 4:55PM
Sarah said...
I've never known anyone to really hate this movie... and the women I hang around with typically share my tastes, which lean towards LOVING this movie because it's one of my all time favorites. So yeah, I'm biased. But I think I love this movie enough to cancel out some women that may not like it.
You're out of your element! ;)
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4-09-2009 @ 5:33PM
Me said...
The Dude will abide...
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 5:30PM
margaret said...
i don't vehemently hate the big lebowski, but i definitely wasn't impressed when i saw it. i honestly remember very little of the film, but i don't think i was particularly offended by anything. i just wasn't really interested in it.
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 7:06PM
Jo said...
I am a woman that doesn't like it. For me it is like tuna casserole. I love all the parts, but you put them together in a casserole pan and the smell makes me sick. I love the Coen Brothers, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and all, but there was something that just doesn't pull it together. I guess that for me there was no rug in the room.
Reply
4-09-2009 @ 8:22PM
shannon said...
I was just thinking about this the other night, as I rewatched TBL, trying to like it. I just don't get it, I guess. I love the Coen Bros. and usually adore their sense of humor. I put this movie in the same category as Reservoir Dogs and Swingers (I admit I haven't made it through either movie): movies that every guy I went to high school with loved, completely identified with and quoted endlessly. And movies I just didn't identify with AT ALL. Though I definitely liked TBL better on the second watching.
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4-10-2009 @ 12:31PM
chalupa said...
I think many women enjoy TBL. We did a feminist critique of the film a couple years ago - http://tinyurl.com/chnmtz
Reply
4-10-2009 @ 5:47PM
The Irish Monk said...
My wife and I are both Achievers, and she has a trophy to prove. Not all women hate this, the funniest film of them all.
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