Okay, rewind your minds with me for a second. Picture this: It's Friday night, you've just hit the local video store (remember those glorious aisles?), and you spot that cover. Two Bette Midlers and two Lily Tomlins staring back at you, promising some kind of glorious, high-concept chaos. You grab the tape, maybe snag some popcorn, and settle in. That, my friends, was the magic of discovering 1988's Big Business, a movie powered by pure, unadulterated star wattage and a premise so classic it feels instantly familiar.
### Double Trouble, Times Two
The setup is pure screwball comedy gold: back in the 1940s, in the tiny town of Jupiter Hollow, West Virginia, a wealthy couple passing through and a local farming couple both give birth to identical twin girls at the same small hospital. Thanks to a near-sighted, slightly overwhelmed nurse, one twin from each set gets swapped. Flash forward forty-odd years, and you have Sadie and Rose Ratliff (Midler and Tomlin respectively), running the inherited local factory and living a simple country life, blissfully unaware of their counterparts. Meanwhile, in the concrete jungle of New York City, Sadie and Rose Shelton (also Midler and Tomlin, naturally) are ruthless, high-powered executives running the massive Moramax corporation – the very corporation that's now threatening to shut down the Jupiter Hollow factory. You can see where this is heading, right? Mistaken identities, culture clashes, and boardroom battles are inevitable when both sets of twins converge on NYC.
### Midler & Tomlin: A Masterclass in Multiplicity
Let's be honest, the main draw here is watching these two comedy legends chew the scenery, not just once, but twice. Bette Midler is a force of nature as both the aggressively ambitious, shoulder-padded CEO Sadie Shelton and the more down-to-earth, aspiring country singer Sadie Ratliff. She brings that trademark brassiness to both roles, but nuances each performance perfectly. Then there's the incomparable Lily Tomlin, delivering her signature dry wit and impeccable timing as the calculating, slightly overlooked Rose Shelton and the sweet, idealistic activist Rose Ratliff. Seeing them play off themselves is the film's central delight.
Retro Fun Fact: Achieving those twin effects in 1988 wasn't CGI magic; it was old-school filmmaking ingenuity! Director Jim Abrahams (yes, one third of the ZAZ trio who gave us stone-cold classics like Airplane! (1980) and Top Secret! (1984)) relied heavily on meticulous split-screen techniques and motion control cameras. This often involved Midler and Tomlin acting opposite stand-ins (sometimes their actual body doubles, sometimes just marks on tape!) and then repeating the scene precisely for the other twin. If you look closely, you can sometimes spot the faint line or slight lighting difference – a charming artifact of the era's practical effects wizardry, miles away from today's seamless digital doubles. It required immense concentration from the actors, especially during dialogue scenes.
### 80s Corporate Comedy Charm
Beyond the stellar leads, the film leans heavily into its late-80s setting. The contrast between the folksy charm of Jupiter Hollow (supposedly West Virginia, though much was filmed in California locales standing in for the town) and the sharp, sterile world of corporate New York is played for maximum comedic effect. Think giant cell phones, power suits galore (seriously, the shoulder pads could have their own billing), and the opulent setting of the Plaza Hotel, which becomes a central stage for the escalating confusion. The supporting cast, including a wonderfully gruff Fred Ward as Roone Dimmick, the charmingly bewildered love interest from Jupiter Hollow, and the perfectly cast Edward Herrmann as the unflappable CEO Graham Sherbourne, fill out the world nicely.
The comedy itself is broad, often leaning into slapstick and farcical situations, which feels right at home under Abrahams' direction, though it lacks the rapid-fire, Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker absurdity of his earlier work. It's more character-driven, relying on the inherent humor of the switched identities and the clash of personalities.
Retro Fun Fact: While Midler and Tomlin seem like the perfect pairing now, apparently Goldie Hawn was also considered early on for one of the twin sets. Imagine that alternate version! The film, budgeted around $40 million (a decent sum for a comedy back then), ultimately grossed about the same domestically. It wasn't a runaway smash hit, but it found its audience, particularly on home video where its star power and easygoing charm made it a reliable weekend rental favorite. I definitely remember this tape being a popular pick amongst my friends back in the day.
### Does the Business Still Boom?
Watching Big Business today is like revisiting a comfortable old friend. Sure, some of the plot mechanics feel a little predictable, and the 80s fashion is a glorious time capsule, but the core appeal remains firmly intact. The chemistry between (and within) Midler and Tomlin is undeniable, and their comedic timing hasn't aged a day. The technical feat of the dual performances, achieved practically, still impresses in its own analogue way. Remember how mind-blowing it seemed back then to see two identical characters interacting so convincingly on screen? It might seem quaint now, but there's a tangible quality to those split-screen shots that CGI often lacks.
It's a warm, funny, and genuinely entertaining piece of 80s studio comedy filmmaking. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it executes its high-concept premise with skill and buckets of charm, carried effortlessly by its legendary leading ladies.
Rating: 7/10 - This score reflects the sheer joy of watching Midler and Tomlin work their magic, the cleverness of the (then) impressive practical twin effects, and the film's overall good-natured humor. It's a touch formulaic and undeniably dated in style, but its heart and comedic performances keep it thoroughly enjoyable.
Final Thought: Forget digital trickery; Big Business is a testament to the analogue magic of practical effects and the sheer force of personality that defined 80s comedy – double the stars, double the fun, and still a delightful watch when you need a dose of feel-good nostalgia.