Editor Reviews:

Amazon.com essential video:
A perfect marriage of novel but incisive writing, acting, and direction, Big is the story of a 12-year-old boy who wishes he were older, and wakes up one morning as a 30-year-old man (Tom Hanks). The script by Gary Ross (Dave) and Anne Spielberg finds some unexpected ways of attacking obvious issues of sex, work, and childhood friendships, and in all of these things the accent is on classy humor and great sensitivity. Hanks is remarkable in the lead, at times hilarious (reacting to caviar just as a 12-year-old would) and at others deeply tender. Penny Marshall became a first-rate filmmaker with this 1988 work. --Tom Keogh

Rating : - One great big fun filled movie watching experience...
The fact that I absolutely adore this movie comes as a huge shock to me since Tom Hanks is one of those actors I find completely overrated. There are really only a handful of his films I can even attest to enjoying (`Cast Away', shockingly, as well as `Saving Private Ryan') but for the most part I find his work a tad overrated (ala `Forest Gump' and `Philadelphia'). `Big', of all of Hanks' work, is probably my favorite. It is most definitely my favorite performance he's ever given and honestly this very performance may cause me to rethink everything I've already concluded about this Hollywood icon.

Penny Marshal's extremely successful family hit `Big' tells the story of twelve-year-old Josh, a kid tired of being a kid who makes a hasty wish to be an adult and winds up getting exactly what he wished for, with mixed results. Unable to explain what happened to him, Josh takes off from home until he can sort things out. This leaves him alone and confused and his parents distraught and heartbroken. Soon Josh starts to adjust, quite well at that. He lands himself a high profile job, acquires a very nice apartment and ends up dating a beautiful coworker.

While everything may seem to be going in the right direction, `Big' ever so delicately asks whether or not a normal childhood is worth giving up.

The script is beautifully written; in such a way that one can't help but relate to the main characters and become a part of their story. This is also hinged strongly on Hanks' masterful performance. He really adapts the mannerisms and mental wavelength of a child of twelve and exhibits those characteristics perfectly. He becomes Josh (thanks to some great method acting from what I hear) and thus sells us on a rather preposterous story.

The rest of the cast also delivers strongly here, especially the likes of Elizabeth Perkins and Robert Loggia. Perkins plays Josh's love interest Susan with ample amounts curiosity and admiration. She becomes a believable woman, a believable lover. Robert Loggia doesn't have a lot of screen time, but he is love for me here. Seriously, his little piano-key dancing scene with Hanks is my favorite scene in the film, and the look on his face is that look of found boyishness that just exudes such presence. John Heard nails the egotistical corporate climber as Paul, Josh's nemeses. He is the memorable villain, the guy you love to hate.

Young actor Jared Rushton (of `Honey I Shrunk the Kids' fame) delivers a fine performance as well here, matching Hanks almost every step of the way; and Mercedes Ruehl's tortured mother is touching and heartbreaking all at the same time.

What is so great about `Big' is that it manages to be lighthearted and warm while still tackling a big message. It never waters down its message or makes light of it in order to sell itself as a family `fluff' film but instead creates a very touching and moving experience that makes us think and laugh at the same time. While I feel that there is something extremely `wrong' with this film (I just had this shiver go down my spine when I realized that Josh and Susan, you know, did `it') I can't help but love it despite its questionable deviance from morality. I'm not picking just so you know, and I understand that it is a `movie', but come on; you can't tell me that the fact that he was twelve didn't just hit you with unease.

Anyways...

Penny Marshall is one of our great female directors today. She knows how to make a memorable and tender film (if you don't believe me then watch `Awakenings' and call me after you dry your tear drenched face) and `Big' is no exception. Probably her biggest hit (although I think I prefer `Awakenings') and one of her most widely acclaimed motion pictures, `Big' is truly one of a kind. Hanks outdoes himself here and truly changes my perception of his career.