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:

Wish | Job | Friend | Toy | Best Friend

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 9 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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 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:

435 Greenmount Avenue, Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Gracie Films

Trivia:

To give star Tom Hanks an idea of how a 12 year-old would behave, director Penny Marshall filmed each "grown-up" scene with David Moscow (Young Josh) playing Tom Hanks's part, who then copied David Moscow's behavior.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Josh and Susan are riding in the limo, the background shots alternate between different streets, evidenced by the lights and buildings which are constantly changing between shots.

Quotes:

Josh: [inputting toy orders] The Dinky Link... Jimmy's Toy Box...
Scotty Brennen: [in the next cubicle] Psst, hey, I'm Scott Brennan.
Josh: I'm Josh Baskin.
Scotty Brennen: Listen, what're you tryin' to do, get us all fired? You gotta pace yourself, slowly, slowly.
Josh: It's my first day.
Scotty Brennen: I know!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Keeping the Faith (2000)

Soundtrack:

THE WAY WE WERE

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.