Big (1988)
Have you ever had a really big secret?
Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard, Jared Rushton, David Moscow, Jon Lovitz, Mercedes Ruehl, Josh Clark, Kimberlee M. Davis
Director: Penny Marshall
Running Time: 104 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: PG
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
On DVD Tom Hanks has appeared in some cracking films in his time, but this, perhaps surprisingly, is as good as any of them. Anyone who can make it through an entire viewing of this movie without smiling - nay, grinning - was probably never a child. And that, in itself, is a little weird.
When 13-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) wishes that he was 'big', little does he know that his wish is about to come true. He wakes up the next morning trapped in the 30-something body of Hanks and, when his mum chucks a wobbler at this unrecognisable man standing in her front room, flees to New York City in desperation.
Thankfully, bezzie mate Billy (Jared Rushton) is on hand to help him track down the mystical fairground slot-machine responsible for granting the wish in the first place. Meantime, Josh finds himself a job with a toy company, where his childish ways make something of an impression on both his boss MacMillan (Robert Loggia) and ambitious workmate Susan (Elizabeth Perkins).
This is a fantastic film from way back when Hanks' name alone wasn't all a movie needed to pull in the big bucks. His obvious talent shines through, arguably just as much as it does in the more highly-acclaimed 'Philadelphia' or 'Forrest Gump'. Few actors of the era could have pulled off the sheer innocence of the role without coming across as either sickly-sweet or just plain unbelievable.
The supporting cast also does a terrific job, with Perkins swinging convincingly from hard-necked to vulnerable, Loggia perfectly suited to the toy mogul role, and Paul Heard on wicked form as a super-jealous executive-type. Keep an eye out too for Jon Lovitz, looking comfortably at home in a small role as the office creep.
DVD Extras: Rumour has it an alternate ending was made which saw Elizabeth join Josh in returning to childhood. It would have been nice to have had that included on the DVD. But it's not. There's just a trailer.
It's Got: A fantastic scene with Hanks and Loggia playing a giant piano.
It Needs: To be watched by the whole family - there's nothing in here that can't be appreciated by all ages.
Alternatives: Vice-Versa, Freaky Friday, The Kid
Summary: Classic Hanks. Nuff said.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 26th August 2003
External Links
Big at the IMDB
Comments1 Comment |
| Classic Tom Hanks, Big is an instant family comedy classic. Only the multi-talented Hanks could pull off such a realistic portrayal of a boy trapped in a man's body... |
| Comment by:- gilletbd1977 | www.thedvdreport.com/dvd_revie... | 07 February 2005 | ip: logged |
