[A] hilariously canny 1989 satire about contemporary filmmaking in Hollywood.

Befitting two of the co-authors of This is Spinal Tap, Guest and Michael McKean, The Big Picture displays a keen eye for the silliness of film biz customs, lingo and attitudes.

The movie references may strike some as in-jokey, but Guest's likeable film has enough jaundiced sideswipes and lighter chuckles to see it through its slacker spells.

...generally feels like a short that's been awkwardly expanded to feature length...