The Big Lebowski

What is it with dudes and...the Dude? Wes and his college roommates all love this movie and can quote it at length. This weekend, there was a Lebowski-fest in Chicago. This was such exciting news that Wes scanned and sent information about the event to his friends -- who live in Washington DC, Philadelphia, and NC. I've seen the first 15 minutes of this movie probably 5 times, but I can never get any further. It's not just the gratuitous swearing. It's just not funny to me. Wes always seems put off by the fact that I won't watch this movie with him. But hey, I don't expect him to settle in on the couch for a thirteenth viewing of While You Were Sleeping or a fifth tearfest for Pride and Prejudice (the one with Keira Knightley -- sorry Colin). I've always known there are "chick films" (and men who watch them) and "dude films" (and girls who love them). But what is it with this movie?