Jeff Bridges is Jeff LeBowski, or "the Dude". LeBowski is an ex-hippie who doesn't do much other than drink, drive around, bowl, and sleep... a general social loafer. He's the focus of the movie, drawn into a rather strange tale of intrigue involving mistaken identity, a kidnapping caper, sex and stolen money.
You see, Dude has the same name as "millionaire" Jeffry LeBowski, a big-time good sameritan, married to a girl half his age who spends more than she should. Through a series of odd occurrances, old LeBowski gets a ransom note saying his precious wife has been kidnapped, and uses Dude as his drop off man. But Dude's buddy and bowling partner Walt (John Goodman) - an ex-'Nam Vet and all around mentally unbalanced guy - goes along with him and fouls up the drop.
Brought into the mix is old LeBowski's daughter, a porno film maker, hired goons, a private eye and three really strange German musicians. There are a lot of twists and turns throughout the movie (a game of "what's really going on" being played), making Dude's head spin... well, that and the occasional acid flashback.
The film is riddled with trademark Coen characters... every single one of them quite odd (peculiar, eccentric... pick your adjective) and all played quite well, from the Cowboy to the County Sheriff to the Dude's Landlord. The story is great, always leaving you to wonder what's really going on, and the acid flashbacks are hilarious. The film never takes anything seriously, even the death of Dude's friend is used as a high point of humour.
The film, however, seemed to have something missing... and I can't really say what. Everything was wrapped up fine, the story was entertaining, engaging and frequently funny, the acting was great, and so was the music... but in the end it felt empty, weak. Still, I give it high marks for ingenuity and entertainment and put it on the best-list of the year.