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The Films of Penny Marshall

Jumpin' Jack Flash

Big (December 29/13)

Big follows 12-year-old Josh Baskin (David Moscow) as his amusement-park wish to be "big" is mysteriously granted and he wakes up trapped in the body of a bona fide grownup (Tom Hanks), with the movie subsequently detailing Josh's efforts at navigating the various difficulties that come with adulthood (including work-related issues and a romantic relationship). Filmmaker Penny Marshall has infused Big with a sweet, pervasively affable feel that's primarily perpetuated by Hanks' winning performance, as the actor delivers a consistently (and almost stunningly) engaging turn that goes a long way towards smoothing over the deficiencies within Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg's erratic screenplay. It's clear, in terms of the narrative, that Big doesn't quite have enough material to sustain a 104 minute running time, with Marshall's pervasively subdued sensibilities ensuring that the movie is, generally speaking, only engrossing in fits and starts. (There are, for example, only a handful of wholeheartedly captivating moments, including the justifiably-iconic oversized piano sequence.) The comedic bent of the film's first half gives way to a third act that's far more dramatic than one might've initially anticipated, and there's little doubt that Big does, as a result, peter out to a palpable degree in the buildup to its predictably low-key finale. It's nevertheless difficult to resist the film's mostly pleasant atmosphere and inherently compelling premise, which effectively (and ultimately) cements Big's place as an agreeable yet unremarkable piece of work.

out of

Awakenings

A League of Their Own

Renaissance Man

The Preacher's Wife

Riding in Cars with Boys

© David Nusair