There are two Jeff Lebowskis living in L.A. One, The Big Lebowski (David Huddlestron), is a rich philanthropist. The other is the Dude (Jeff Bridges), an unemployed hippie who spends most of his time bowling with his buddies Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi). So when two thugs come looking for money owed to Jackie Treehorn (Ben Gazzara) they mistake the Dude for the Big Lebowski. They rough the dude up a bit and soil his rug before realizing they have the wrong one. Since the rug really brought the room together the Dude decides to seek reparations from the Big Lebowski since that's who the goons were looking for. The Big L. blows Dude off but calls him back the next day. It seems that Lebowski's wife Bunny (Tara Reid) has been kidnapped and he wants the Dude to deliver the money. The Dude reluctantly agrees, but when Walter invites himself along for the drop off everything goes to hell. Soon the whole town is looking for the Dude, from Lebowski's daughter Maude (Julianne Moore), a feminist painter, to a trio of Nihilists and their marmot.
The Big Lebowski is definitely a film from the Coen brothers. It's packed with their patented strange humor as seen previously in Raising Arizona and Fargo. Of these three I think TBL is the best. Whether it's the Dudes bizarre visions or the nonstop parade of nutballs you're never quite sure which direction the film is going. As good as Bridges was as the Dude, it's Goodman who makes the movie. He was terrific as Walter the know-it-all Vietnam vet who is always ready to point out the shortcomings others. The Big Lebowski is a hilarious movie full of weirdos that keep you guessing as what will happen next.