BIG BUSINESS (1988) **1/2 Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler are polar opposites, from each other and themselves, as Bette takes north and south and Lily takes east and west, and vice versa. Two women, four characters, and many moods, no? Yes, it's another yarn about a yokel hospital confusing babies, perhaps only one of four, perhaps more, with debilitating implications for everything but the script and audience. It could have been tired, but with these ladies imitating themselves and each other it's fun. Bette sings a little bit and Lily does snake imitation, and they both, all, confuse the hopelessly debonair Michele Placido , a foil who remains somewhere well above hapless throughout. There's probably a temptation to declare it a morality tale about rural purity and corporate greed, but that's not it at all, it's just that corporations make such easy targets, and when you have comedic guns like this you don't want too much thought getting in the way. I would award Lily first and fourth place medals, and second and third to Bette. Fine film with champagne on ice sensibilities, all in the mug, please.
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