Gigantic (2008)

A mattress salesman finds his plan to adopt a Chinese baby augmented by the arrival of a young woman, who comes into his workplace, falls asleep on one of the beds, and starts to affect his life upon waking up.

Director:

Matt Aselton

Writers:

Adam Nagata, Matt Aselton

Stars:

Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, John Goodman

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Dano	...	Brian Weathersby
Zooey Deschanel	...	Happy Lolly
John Goodman	...	Al Lolly
Edward Asner	...	Kirby Weathersby (as Ed Asner)
Jane Alexander	...	Barbara Weathersby
Ian Roberts	...	John Weathersby
Robert Stanton	...	James Weathersby
Clarke Peters	...	Roger Stovall
Daniel Stewart Sherman	...	Kevin Blue
Mary Page Keller	...	Marguerite Lolly
Zach Galifianakis	...	Homeless Man
Brian Avers	...	Larry Arbogast
Leven Rambin	...	Missy Thaxton
Susan Misner	...	Melanie Lolly
Matt Walton	...	Conner Williams

Storyline

Do we ever get what we want? Brian sells mattresses in a warehouse store. His father and older brothers have material success; he wants a child. He's applied to adopt a baby from China. A man who appears homeless seems to be stalking Brian with violent intent. He meets Happy, the daughter of a rich, quirky customer. She doesn't stick to anything, but she and Brian hit it off, except for her vomiting when she learns about his adoption idea. He wants her to meet his family, and there's a call about the adoption. What will Happy do?

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Plot Keywords:

baby | adoption | vomiting | stalking | bed | 

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Taglines:

When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Falrengető

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,294, 5 April 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$102,079, 28 June 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Independent Pictures, Epoch Films, Killer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

At 1:05:01, vomit is not originating from Happy's mouth.

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Quotes

Happy: [lying on bed] Hey! Can you see up my skirt?
Brian: [looking] Not really.
Happy: Great!

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Connections

Spoofed in God of War Indie Movie Trailer (2010)

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Soundtracks

I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Written by Richard Thompson & Linda Thompson
Performed by Richard Thompson & Linda Thompson
Courtesy of Island Records Limited
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Driving out the Demons within

Gigantic is an eccentric film about two oddball families. Brian is bored with his job of selling mattresses and is obsessed with adopting a Chinese baby. Despite having loving parents and supportive brothers he cannot relate to them and lives alone frugally in an apartment. Harriet or Happy who walks into Brian's showroom one day and falls asleep on a mattress has a dysfunctional family with a loud mouth hypochondriac father, an estranged disconnected mother and a self-centered older sister. Brian and Harriet are drawn to each other sexually but cannot connect emotionally and the Chinese baby only makes things worse.

Alternately comical and melancholic this surreal story is about people managing their angst. The exact reasons for Brian's anxiety are not stated but it is possibly because he was brought accidentally into this world by his parents.

There is a bizarre subplot in which a homeless man stalks Brian and keeps attacking him without any purpose. The discerning few can easily see this as a subtext for the demons of self-doubt tormenting Brian's mind. For others it could be an annoying red herring.

It is a film that will make you feel good if you have cracked the subplot.