Big (1988)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers:

Gary Ross (written by) &
Anne Spielberg (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Have you ever had a really big secret?

Plot:

When a boy wishes to be big at a magic wish machine, he wakes up the next morning and finds himself in an adult body literally overnight.

Plot Keywords:

Toy | Experience Of A New Environment | Mother Son Relationship | Baseball Game | Bicycle

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Josh Baskin
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Susan
Robert Loggia	...	MacMillan
John Heard	...	Paul
Jared Rushton	...	Billy
David Moscow	...	Young Josh
Jon Lovitz	...	Scotty Brennen
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Mrs. Baskin
Josh Clark	...	Mr. Baskin
Kimberlee M. Davis	...	Cynthia Benson
Oliver Block	...	Freddie Benson
Erika Katz	...	Cynthia's Friend
Allan Wasserman	...	Gym Teacher
Mark Ballou	...	Derek
Gary Howard Klar	...	Ticket Taker (as Gary Klar)

Runtime:

104 min | 130 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | West Germany:6 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | UK:12 (2007, uncut; re-rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:PG (cut) | Norway:10 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Gracie Films

Trivia:

According to actor Robert Loggia, on the day they filmed the famous keyboard scene at F.A.O. Schwartz, he and Tom Hanks noticed that doubles dressed like them were on hand just in case the two could not do the dance moves correctly. It became their goal to do the entire keyboard number without the aid of the doubles. They succeeded.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Paul and Josh are at the court, and Paul keeps asking for the ball, Josh drops his racket in one shot, but it's back in his hand in the next.

Quotes:

Susan: All he said was he didn't get it.
Paul: [Mimicking Josh] "I don't get it." "I don't get it". "Let's make it a bug".

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy (#5.14)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

WE GO TOGETHER

This movie captures the innocence of youth beautifully

I saw this film again yesterday for what must now be the tenth or so time and it's a film that makes me stop whatever I'm doing and immerse myself in the unfolding story. Never mind the fact that I am by now familiar with the premise, which incidentally far exceeds similar ones of the genre released at this time - Vice Versa and 18 Again (the latter being truly dire).

I think this is one of Hanks' finest hours and see it as the pinnacle of his early pre-90's career. His later performance in Philadelphia would eclipse this role, although this was obviously more serious in its message.

It takes real talent to act the young boy in the body of a thirty something and Hanks' copes admirably, from the comical leaping around the bedroom when he is trying to put on the jeans of the child on discovering his transformation to the child-like reaction displayed on Perkins' advances toward him. He captures the essence of youthful innocence both in the company of his younger peers and older 'work' colleagues.

Elizabeth Perkins complements the performance of Hanks' and it seems a shame that on searching the database that her career perhaps hasn't mirrored the success of Hanks' since making 'Big'.

I don't know why, but I always shed a tear at the end of the film. Perhaps it is the longing in all of us to want to return to the days of our youth and that we cannot turn back the clock as one can in the imaginary world of film.

As I grow older, and watch my children grow-up it makes me realise that time is a precious commodity and that life is a gift that should be cherished and nurtured carefully. This film somehow reinforces these feelings.