Bigger Than the Sky

PG-13

Released Feb 18, 2005

1h 46m

Comedy

Drama

List

12%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When his girlfriend leaves him, depressed designer Peter Rooker (Marcus Thomas) shakes up his life by auditioning for a community theater production. Despite his horrible performance, director Edwina Walters (Clare Higgins) sees Peter's potential and gives him the part. Peter quickly adjusts to theater life, growing close to actor Michael Degan (John Corbett) and his co-star girlfriend, Grace Hargrove (Amy Smart). Trouble ensues when Peter falls for Grace, placing the play in jeopardy.

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David M

I will admit that this movie probably doesn't hit home for those people who haven't acted in community or regional theater. If you have, however, you know just how true to life these characters and their personalities are. From the everyday working guy who just wants to try acting, to the person who just never graduates to "big time" despite talent, the manic-pixie dream girl who is the lead in everything, the costumer that will cut you if you mess up your costume or their system, to the big ego fish in a small pond who can't do without their nose/props to play a character...I've seen them all multiple times over decades. Not to mention the Kippy and directors like Edwina that put all this stuff together with, or in spite of, well-meaning Boards of Directors. If you only knew how true this movie was to life for those people who take time to act on the side. Just one pitch, real quick. Support your local live performers. It isn't "hey kids, let's put on a show!" like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland anymore. They do all the functions of a Broadway production to recreate these shows locally. Except on Broadway that money goes into a single (hopefully) successful show with a long run to make money for the investors. These local theater companies always operate on a constrained budget, the actors are not paid professionals (community theater), and they put on not one show but multiple in a season - with all the logistical complications and costs associated with their level of production. So they need your time, your support (as actors, or volunteers, or Board), and monetary support to keep live theater available in local venues for you and your families as well as to provide opportunities for children and young adults interested in performing arts to get involved and get experience.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is just bad - the acting is terrible and they do a terrible job of making you care about the characters.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So many things wrong with this flick, starting with a protagonist who, although "nice enough," just isn't very likeable.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sweet film for community theater enthusiasts.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

kevin w

Ahh, the theater, the theater, and here's a nod to loving the stage life by first time director Corley ... that sadly fails only with the casting of the lead, who embodies the drone he begins as at first, yet cannot realise the character arc to larger-than-life animal that the script calls for later. What is interesting though, beside the main plots fail, is Patty Duke and her son working together (and that she is a twin once more!).

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'm very inclined to like it since I'm in love with Portland, but, I'm afraid it didn't lift its own weight or carry its own water or nose out my negative feelings. It didn't even ruffle my panache!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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Al Corley

Director

Marcus Thomas

Peter Rooker

John Corbett

Michael Degan

Amy Smart

Grace Hargrove

Sean Astin

Ken Zorbell

Clare Higgins

Edwina Winters

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Sheri Linden

Hollywood Reporter

An off-putting combination of earnestness and apparent disregard for audience involvement.

Feb 23, 2005

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Are the filmmakers making meta use of a bland, uncharismatic actor to play a bland, uncharismatic actor who plays one of the theater's most memorable men? Nah, thinking like that requires panache.

Rated: F

Feb 23, 2005

Full Review

Ed Park

Village Voice

Bigger lopes along endlessly, a no-surprises foray into backstage high jinks and the notion of life as the best acting coach there is.

Feb 22, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Unwatchable mushy comedy.

Rated: C

Oct 29, 2017

Full Review

Daniel Eagan

Film Journal International

Bigger Than the Sky is, like its lead character, equal parts endearing and exasperating.

Feb 23, 2005

Full Review

Marc Mohan

Oregonian

The story is as predictable as it is saccharine. Apart from the presence of local landmarks, there's no reason the Rose City should be proud of this effort.

Rated: D

Feb 18, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

When his girlfriend leaves him, depressed designer Peter Rooker (Marcus Thomas) shakes up his life by auditioning for a community theater production. Despite his horrible performance, director Edwina Walters (Clare Higgins) sees Peter's potential and gives him the part. Peter quickly adjusts to theater life, growing close to actor Michael Degan (John Corbett) and his co-star girlfriend, Grace Hargrove (Amy Smart). Trouble ensues when Peter falls for Grace, placing the play in jeopardy.

Director: Al Corley
Producer: Jonathan Dana
Screenwriter: Rodney Vaccaro
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Neverland Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual References|Some Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.1K
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround

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