Big
1988 · Directed by Penny Marshall
Original language: English
- fantasy
- drama
- comedy
The story
When a young boy makes a wish at a carnival machine to be big, he wakes up the following morning to find that it has been granted and his body has grown older overnight, but he is still the same 13-year-old boy inside. Now he must learn how to cope with the unfamiliar world of grown-ups, including getting a job and having his first romantic encounter with a woman.
What it’s like
Bright, unfussy 1980s New York, shot in warm daylight and lived-in interiors: a toy company's sleek white office with its giant piano keyboard floor, a Bronx street of brick and chain-link, and the blinking, clattering arcade glow of a carnival pinball machine that serves as the film's small, humming portal. Marshall keeps the camera mostly at ease, with medium two-shots and easy cutaways that let scenes breathe, and the score is light, bouncy synth-pop and piano that tilts toward wonder without swelling into sentiment. The vibe is cozy, sweet and wistful, with a gentle comic lilt. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or an easy evening when you want something warm and funny. Its rhythm is brisk and episodic, and its emotional arc follows a boy in a man's body slowly learning how to be lonely, tender and useful in the adult world. Intensity is mild: some crude jokes and a brief, non-explicit romantic scene, with no violence and no real fear. It is for people who want nostalgic, big-hearted comedy with a touch of fantasy.
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