"Big" (1988)

Rating: PG

Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family

Directed By: Penny Marshall

Written By: Anne Spielberg, Gary Ross

Released: June 3^rd, 1988

Runtime: 98 minutes

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Summary:

After a wish turns 12-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) into a 30-year-old man (Tom Hanks), he heads to New York City and gets a low-level job at MacMillen Toy Company. A chance encounter with the owner (Robert Loggia) of the company leads to a promotion testing new toys. Soon a fellow employee, Susan Lawrence (Elizabeth Perkins), takes a romantic interest in Josh. However, the pressure of living as an adult begins to overwhelm him, and he longs to return to his simple, former life as a boy.

Review:

This film is a big bundle of joy. Although the concept of the story is as old as time, it’s a very sweet story we can re-watch again and again. 

Tom Hanks can portray a very childlike quality better than many actors I’ve watched onscreen. I couldn’t have thought of a better lead. The film “13 Going on 30” came a few years later with Jennifer Garner, featuring pretty much the same story as this one, but Tom Hanks’ portrayal of the 12 year old going on 32 year old trumps that film by a long mile.  This film shows how scary the sudden change would be in a more real way.

I don't think, and many will agree, that this is one of the best films out there, but it certainly has its funny moments. Smiles and giggles are a plenty. This cute family-friendly story is something any age will enjoy.

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