She Likes to Watch

“I won’t say a hero, ’cause, what’s a hero? Sometimes, there’s a man. And I’m talkin’ about the Dude here — the Dude from Los Angeles. Sometimes, there’s a man, well, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that’s the Dude.”
— The Stranger, in “The Big Lebowski”

A few weeks ago, “Mutts” comic author Patrick McDonnell devoted a week’s worth of strips to the cult movie “The Big Lebowski.”

This is the 10th anniversary of the film by Ethan and Joel Cohen, whose “No Country for Old Men” is up for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, during Sunday’s Academy Awards.

“The Big Lebowski” tanked at the box office in 1998, but has since found an audience through video and DVDs, which has spawned a festival, a fan book, T-shirts, posters, bobbleheads and action figures. Fans proudly call themselves “Achievers,” a reference to the “Little Lebowski Urban Acheivers” mentioned in the movie.

The plot, a play on Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep,” concerns a soiled rug, bowling, nihlists, a kidnapping and a severed toe. The lead character is a slacker named Lebowski (played by Jeff Bridges) who goes by the moniker “the Dude.”

He is assisted by his friends and bowling partners Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and the hapless Donny (Steve Buscemi).

The Dude is confused with another man named Lebowski — a millionaire whose wife owes money to a known pornographer. One of the thugs who comes to collect on the debt pees on the Dude’s rug, which the Dude laments “really tied the room together,” and sets the story in motion.

Along the way we learn a lot about the Dude and his world, which includes Walter, an obnoxious Vietnam vet who runs his own security business.

McDonnell’s strip “Mutts,” which appears in more than 700 newspapers — including The Tribune — in 20 countries, struck a chord with Lebowski fans. We liked McDonnell’s style, so we sought him out to find out his rationale for the comic tribute to the cult classic “The Big Lebowski.”

It took more than a week to get our questions to him and for him to e-mail the responses. Here they are:

What prompted you to devote a weeks worth of Mutts to “The Big Lebowski”?

Of all the characters in your strip, why did you choose Mooch (the cat) to mimic the Dude?

I’ll answer the first two questions together. I’m an admirer of the Coen brothers’ work, and of “The Big Lebowski” in particular. While watching it again recently I was thinking how cat-like the Dude is. I saw similarities with my Mooch character. So I thought it might be fun to do Mooch as the Dude. A bathrobe is the perfect garment for a house cat.

What has the reaction of fans of the strip or movie been to the strips?

I just came back from a Midwest book tour, and met quite a few “Achievers” who picked up on the reference. Of course there are other “Mutts” readers who are “amateurs” but, hopefully, they enjoyed the strips as well.

So, are you, Patrick McDonnell, an “Achiever”?

Yesh.

The film turns 10 years old this year. When did you first discover it? Did someone turn you on to it?

I don’t go to the movies much. I first saw it when it came out on video, and it blew me away.

How many times have you watched it?

I’m not sure, but probably a half-dozen times.

There is only one pet in the movie; in Walter’s parlance, a “Pomeranian” with papers. What else about the film appeals or speaks to you?

Actually, you are forgetting the nice marmot. I just think the movie is great on all levels. It has amazing characters and dialogue, and a Zen quality that appeals to me.

Who’s your favorite Lebowski character?

The Stranger. He ties the movie together.

How has being a fan of “Lebowski” made you a better person and/or cartoonist?

“The Big Lebowski” has helped me along on my artistic and spiritual journey across the sands of time.

There have been numerous Lebowski Festivals held throughout the country — New York, Louisville, Ky., Las Vegas, Los Angeles and, next month, a sold-out event in Chicago. Have you ever been to one?

No, but it would be fun to roll and have a sarsaparilla.

During these festivals there are costume contests where people dress up as characters or objects from the movie, such as Larry Seller’s homework or Larry’s social studies teacher. What character would you be and why?

I’d probably be the Dude. I know that’s not very original, but as a cartoonist who works at home, I already have a similar wardrobe.

What’s your favorite Lebowski movie line?

“The Dude abides.” That just about sums it all up.

• • •

“The Dude abides. I don’t know about you but I take comfort in that. It’s good knowin’ he’s out there. The Dude. Takin’ ’er easy for all us sinners.”
— The Stranger, in “The Big Lebowski”

Check out this link to the official site for “Mutts” comics.

“Mutts” is distributed by King Features Syndicate.

Photo of Patrick McDonnell and his dog Earl is by Kim Levin.

— Jay Thompson