[MRM]

Of course he's not a role model. It's called satire. The movie is meant to be enjoyed on many levels. That's why it works. First, the idea of real people living like that and getting involved in those situations is kind of funny. The story alone is kind of funny, if not real original, in that the kidnap/cross/double-cross plot twists were fresh but not the first time the story has been told. And it's a commentary on our society that the characters and situations are almost realistic enough that they don't seem outlandish. Then there's the little bit of us that envy people who can live like the dude and seem to have so few possessions and so few cares. The dialog sparkles with equal parts wit and off the wall craziness.

But ultimately the movie is about (to the extent that it is about anything) how all of us are like The Dude in our own way- suffering under delusions that we are more important than we are, engaging in conceits no more valid than affecting a nickname like "The Dude" or The Big Lebowski," engaging in life pursuits that are ultimately futile and senseless, and being tossed on tides of humanity that are both comic and tragic at the same time.

When we make fun of The Dude we poke fun at ourselves, when we sympathize with him we are hoping that others will cut us the slack that The Dude asked for in the movie.