Written by Dave Barry
SUMMARY:
First published in 1999, G.P. Putnam’s Sons 292-page paperback reprint was released in 2017.
Set in Coconut Grove (a posh Miami, Florida neighborhood), this wacky heist caper’s ensemble cast includes: a down-on-his-luck ex-journalist (Eliot) and his teenage son (Matt); two moronic, small-time hustlers (Snake & Eddie); a dim-witted yet good-natured loser (Puggy); a gentle Latina maid (Nina); two nonchalant Russian arms dealers; a pair of error-prone hitmen out of New Jersey (Henry & Leonard); one sleazy arms courier (Arthur); Arthur’s neglected wife, Anna, and her teenage daughter (Jenny); three bewildered Miami cops, two hard-nosed FBI agents, and one famished dog (Roger) feuding with a venomous toad.
Just throw in a secret nuclear weapon concealed in a suitcase, as everyone converges in a late-night dash to the airport … and the book’s title makes sense.
REVIEW:
For starters, Big Trouble lifts plenty from Elmore Leonard’s playbook re: R-rated guy humor. Case in point: the novel’s zany tone parodies South Florida’s pro-gun culture, shady conglomerates scoring hefty government contracts, international terrorism, bargain-basement crooks, and even airport security (or lack thereof). It’s no surprise that, as a potential audience, women might find Big Trouble’s oozing of tongue-in-cheek machismo a instant turn-off.
In his acknowledgement, Dave Barry readily admits that his foray into outrageous, fast-paced South Florida crime fiction was inspired by writers like Leonard and Carl Hiaasen. Make no mistake: Big Trouble delivers plenty of foul-mouthed, hilariously unpredictable antics in crowd-pleasing fashion. However, the sole caveat is a home invasion sequence where a misogynistic plot anomaly turns unnecessarily vile — let’s just say the icky scene seems more reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino than Dave Barry. Aside from this detour into exploitative trash, the story’s blend of world-weary cynicism and seedy humor is well-played.
Big Trouble’s best element counteracting its chauvinism is how the likable female characters (Monica, Anna, & Jenny) are more competent than the guys, as they bravely step up to action, when necessary. For instance, cop Monica Ramirez’s take-charge heroism merits the story’s MVP honors; in that regard, Barry ought to reward her with a spin-off novel.
While not all of Big Trouble’s males are inebriated, trigger-happy buffoons, there’s enough testosterone-laden guys to cover a gamut of genre caricatures. Even so, there’s some intriguing bait-and-switching at work — some characters implied as pivotal early on are then superseded by others, who make a far bigger impact down the home stretch. Without divulging spoilers, at least one seemingly minor character takes stunning risks in the climax trying to help save the day. Plausible or not, such twists are worth the wait once the plot’s main scheme kicks into motion.
The bottom line is that Barry’s zippy comedic wit makes Big Trouble a guilty pleasure worth indulging. Even some unlikely late twists don’t hamper a suspenseful, straight-up finale worthy of Hollywood blockbusters. An extra helping of irony and even some sentimentality tinge the epilogue, as Barry opts for a classy, low-key finish. Big Trouble won’t ever be mistaken as a masterpiece, but it’s still a welcome diversion from channel surfing and the bleakness of daily news.
Note: There’s a same-named, 2002 big-screen film adaptation starring Tim Allen, Rene Russo, Dennis Farina, & Stanley Tucci that bombed — both critically and at the box office. That really isn’t a surprise so much; Big Trouble’s snarky humor is a hit-or-miss proposition (no pun intended) where a reader’s imagination best visualizes this loose parody of crime noir.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Barry offers an acknowledgment/warning, as he concedes that the characters didn’t abide by his request to refrain from naughty dialogue. To his credit, he clearly states that Big Trouble isn’t meant for kids. The author’s other fiction and non-fiction titles are listed. The back inside cover is Barry’s brief synopsis.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
