Bigger Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two brothers accidentally invent the modern gym industry by publishing pictures of muscular dudes and dodging a cartoon villain obsessed with flabby people.

🍿 Bigger: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Origins of an Empire

The film opens in 2008 with an older Joe Weider attending his brother Ben’s funeral, setting the stage for a retrospective interview about their lives. Flashbacks transport us to their impoverished childhood in 1930s Montreal, where young Joe and Ben faced anti-Semitism and bullying. Inspired by a circus strongman, Joe discovers a passion for weightlifting, using makeshift equipment.

Early Ventures and Obstacles

Despite his mother’s disapproval, Joe pursues his dream. He starts his first magazine focusing on bodybuilding and healthy living, encountering resistance from established figures like rival publisher Bill Hauk. Joe also navigates early personal life, including a brief first marriage that ends due to his overwhelming dedication to his work.

Building the Brand

Joe and Ben move their operation to California, where the fitness culture is more receptive. Joe expands his business to include fitness products and magazines, with Ben focusing on the organizational side. They face skepticism and outright hostility from competitors, particularly Hauk, who embodies prejudice and the old guard of strength sports.

Creating the IFBB and Mr. Universe

Seeking legitimacy and a platform for his athletes, Joe enters his bodybuilders into the Mr. Universe contest but faces disqualification. On the spot, he declares the formation of the International Federation of Body Building (IFBB) and plans his own competition. This spur-of-the-moment decision, led by Ben, solidifies their ambition to professionalize and globalize the sport.

Partnership and Challenges

Joe meets and marries Betty Brosmer, a celebrated pin-up model who becomes his partner in business and life, contributing significantly to the Weider empire. Despite successes like groundbreaking magazine covers promoting diversity and expanding their product line, the brothers face financial struggles and internal conflicts, including a period where Ben distances himself.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Joe Weider (Tyler Hoechlin): The ambitious and visionary protagonist who battles poverty and prejudice to build a fitness and bodybuilding empire.
• Ben Weider (Aneurin Barnard): Joe’s steadfast brother and business partner who handles operations and helps establish the IFBB.
• Betty Weider (Julianne Hough): Joe’s second wife, a former pin-up model and key associate who becomes vital to the growth of his business.
• Bill Hauk (Kevin Durand): A composite character representing the bigoted and powerful rival publisher who opposes the Weider brothers.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger (Calum Von Moger): A young, charismatic Austrian bodybuilder discovered by Joe who becomes a global icon and elevates the sport.
• Kathy Weider (Victoria Justice): Joe’s first wife whose relationship is strained by his all-consuming dedication to his burgeoning fitness enterprise.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Joe Weider: “What you do not realize is all these men want is to compete against the very best.” – Joe explains his vision for competitive bodybuilding and his magazine, emphasizing the athletes’ drive for excellence.
• Joe Weider: “You are flabby! You need to improve your health!” – Said defiantly to his prejudiced restaurant boss after being fired, asserting the importance of fitness.
• Joe Weider: “Just be yourself and have fun!” – Joe offers simple but crucial advice to a nervous Arnold Schwarzenegger before his first major competition.
• Joe Weider: “It’s not just about competition… it’s about improving yourself, being healthier.” – Explaining his philosophy for bodybuilding and fitness compared to rival publications focused solely on competitive strength.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $46,382
• Worldwide Gross: $49,997

💥 Bigger Reviews

Personal Review

Honestly, I went into ‘Bigger’ expecting a cool look at old-school bodybuilding, and while it delivered some of that, it felt a little too ‘made-for-TV movie’ at times. I really appreciated seeing the struggles the Weiders faced, dealing with poverty and awful anti-Semitism. That pie-throwing scene, while maybe exaggerated, felt like a cathartic moment for Joe. Julianne Hough was a definite bright spot, portraying Betty Weider with grace and intelligence. And yeah, the guy playing Arnold was surprisingly good! The movie simplifies a lot, especially the controversies, which was a bit disappointing as a fan who knows some of the history. But as a straightforward underdog story, it’s inspiring and makes you appreciate where the fitness world came from.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of biographical dramas”
  • “People interested in the history of fitness and bodybuilding”
  • “Viewers who enjoy rags-to-riches stories”
  • “Fans of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s early career”
  • “Those looking for an inspiring entrepreneurial story”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Portrayals of anti-Semitism and prejudice”
  • “Instances of bullying and physical confrontation”
  • “Smoking and drinking depicted (in the character of Roy Hawkins)”
  • “Discussion of historical inaccuracies by reviewers”

Professional Reviews

• Synthesized Review: “While ‘Bigger’ aims to tell an inspiring rags-to-riches story, it often feels like a sanitized advertisement for the Weider legacy. The historical inaccuracies are noticeable for anyone familiar with the subject, and the villain feels pulled from a different, much sillier movie. However, strong performances from Julianne Hough and a surprisingly spot-on Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayal keep moments engaging. It’s an earnest, if overly polished, look at the origins of fitness as an industry.
• Synthesized Review: “‘Bigger’ offers an uplifting tale of perseverance against the odds. Despite some criticisms about historical glossing, the film effectively captures the passion of Joe and Ben Weider and their fight to legitimize bodybuilding. Tyler Hoechlin navigates the complexities of Joe’s driven personality, and the film shines when showcasing the cultural impact the brothers had. It’s a solid motivational story, perfect for anyone needing a boost to pursue their dreams.

Audience Reactions

Seeing the origins of the fitness world and the struggles the Weider brothers faced was truly inspiring.: Many viewers found the story of overcoming obstacles and building an empire motivational. The acting, particularly Julianne Hough and the actor playing young Arnold, received positive mentions. It’s seen as a feel-good story about chasing a dream.

Overall Consensus: A generally inspiring, though historically sanitized, look at the lives of Joe and Ben Weider and their impact on the fitness industry, elevated by key performances.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The character Bill Hauk is not a real historical person but a composite character representing various adversaries Joe Weider faced throughout his career.”
• “The film was executive produced by Eric Weider, the nephew of Ben Weider, suggesting involvement and perspective from the Weider family.”
• “Calum Von Moger, the actor who portrays Arnold Schwarzenegger, is an Australian bodybuilder known for his resemblance to Schwarzenegger in his prime.”

🖥️ How to Watch Bigger?

To watch ‘Bigger: The Joe Weider Story’, you can typically find it available for streaming on various platforms. It may also be accessible for rent or purchase on digital storefronts like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, or YouTube Movies. Check your preferred video-on-demand service for current availability and pricing options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Bigger, you might like these similar films:

• Pumping Iron (1977): This classic documentary directly features Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Mr. Olympia contest, providing a real look into the competitive bodybuilding world central to ‘Bigger’.
• The Founder (2016): Shares the theme of an ambitious entrepreneur building a massive empire from humble beginnings, facing opposition and challenging established norms in their industry.
• Rocky (1976): An iconic sports drama about an underdog pursuing a dream through dedication and intense training, capturing the spirit of overcoming adversity.
• Chariots of Fire (1981): A historical sports film focusing on athletes striving for excellence and facing prejudice in the early 20th-century Olympics, sharing themes of dedication and overcoming barriers.
• Pain & Gain (2013): While fictional and much darker in tone, this film also explores the bodybuilding world in Florida and themes of physical transformation and misguided ambition, referenced by reviewers as a related context.

🛒 Bigger Related Products

• Weider Weight Set or Dumbbells: Start your own fitness journey with classic Weider-branded free weights, reminiscent of the equipment foundational to Joe Weider’s empire.
• Muscle & Fitness Magazine Subscription: Subscribe to the magazine that started it all, founded by Joe Weider, delivering modern fitness tips, nutrition advice, and profiles of athletes.
• Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story: Read the autobiography of Arnold Schwarzenegger, covering his rise from bodybuilding to Hollywood stardom and politics.
• Fitness Tracking Smartwatch/Wearable: Modern technology meets fitness tracking, allowing you to monitor workouts, steps, heart rate, and more, embodying the Weiders’ emphasis on physical improvement.

🎧 Soundtrack

Bigger features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Baby Count Ten (The Waiting Song)” – performed by The Bell Sisters

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Holding Bigger And Bigger Dogs

Speaking of “bigger” things, check out MrBeast attempting to hold increasingly larger dogs! It’s a surprisingly entertaining challenge, and you won’t believe the size of that last one.

Everything’s bigger in Texas… including Kangaroos 😂

You think things were big in the movie? Apparently, everything’s bigger in Texas, and yes, that includes kangaroos! This short clip is totally wild and unexpected.

HOW DO I BUILD A BIGGER CHEST?

Wondering about other things that can get “bigger”? This viral fitness tip might just give you some ideas, though maybe not the kind you’d expect! It’s amassed a ton of views for a reason.

GIANT Purple Squishy Stress Ball

Need to relieve some stress after all that movie drama? How about a “giant” squishy stress ball? This video showing one being made is surprisingly mesmerizing to watch!

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