Tom Hanks is the great American actor of his era. No actor has been consistantly better movie after movie from the late 80's through all of the 90's until today. We know his award winning roles in "Saving Private Ryan," "Forrest Gump," and "Philadelphia," as well as his other great roles in "Appollo 13," "The Green Mile," "Terminal," and I think my favorite performance of his in "Castaway," which was much better even than his Oscar winning "Forrest Gump."
But in 1988 "Big" was his coming out party. While the movie may not be as 'serious' as some of Hank's other famous performances, I say it is equally as good. He matches the innocence and exuberence of a 13 year old boy with perfection. He also handles the scared little boy who wants just wants to be able to go back home to his mom. It is this confusion between wanting to be treated like and adult, yet still needing to be treated like a child which makes our teenage years so difficult and exciting, and which Hanks deftly handles with his performance... its as if you think Hanks was actually thirteen and really did just wake up as an adult the night before filming this movie. Other lesser actors would have just gone over the top and over acted... it would be an easy thing to in this role. Yet even during Hanks scenes where he does act especially child-like, such as the famous scene in the F.A.O. Schwartz toy store, or where his girlfriend spends the night... or 'sleeps over,' his exuberance is not over the top, yet also not under performed, he acts precisely as you would expect a 13 year old boy to act, from his big motions, down to the innocenct glimmer in his eye. An award worthy performance that is kind of overlooked probably because the movie is not a serious drama.
But "Big," while not a serious movie, is a great movie. It is funny, touching, poignant, sad, happy, and even romantic. Not many movies can boast to be all of those qualities at once. Just in case you don't remember I'll go over the plot real quick. A young boy, Josh is frustrated as many 13 year old boys can be about not being big or old enough to do a lot of the things he wants, such as ride on a roller coaster with the girl he likes (who is a good foot taller then he is like most 13 girls are). So after he wishes to be big at a Carnival game, he wakes up to literally find himself 30 years old and a full grown adult! As a 13 year old adult in New York City he fortuitously lands a great job for a toy company, meets a girl,and is successful, but finds he misses both his family as well as the fun and innocence of being child in a childs body. In some ways, especially for me, while re-watching "Big" I kind of felt like I went back to when I was a child because it was one of my favorite movies when I was about the same age as the boy in the movie. Watching it now as an adult I realize more so how effective "Big" is at what it is trying to do; every adult who watches this movie can't help but being taken back to a much more innocent time of our lives. Its success comes from reminding us what it was like to be a child. As you watch the movie you feel as if you are remembering the feelings you used to have, which are so easy to forget; the joys of silly string, and a trampoline. Or the excitement of being in your first limo and standing up out the sunroof as the big city rolls by, oblivious to the problems all around you.
It is a very fun family movie. And while it is pure science ficition in a way, it rings completely true. And is anchored by a fine, star-making, performance by one of our great actors. Re-watch "Big" and I gaurentee you a great time.
4 1/2 out of 5.
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